Environmental Report Lead Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Strategic Environmental
Assessment
Lead Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
2014
D RAFT ISS
[email protected] 1 www.sthelens.gov.ukSt Helens Council
Environmental Report Lead Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
A Information
A.i Contact:
‹‹‹ Tel: 01744 67 6789 ‹‹‹ [email protected] ‹‹‹ www.sthelens.gov.uk
A.ii Document Information:
‹‹‹ Environmental Report Produced by Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) ‹‹‹ To be used in conjunction with theSt Helens Local Flood Risk Management Strategy ‹‹‹ Document finisalsed July 2013
A.iii Revision:
‹‹‹ MEAS revision June 2014
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B Contents
B.1 Base Sections
Non -technical Summary 4
Section 1 – Introduction 6 Background 6 Study Area 6 Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 6 Strategic Environmental Assessment 7 Compliance with SEA Regulations 8
Section 2 – Methodology 10 SEA Stages and Works Undertaken 10
Section 3 – Review of Plans, Policies and Programmes and Baseline Information 12 Plans, Policies and Programmes 12 Baseline Information 13 Key Environmental and Sustainability Issues 13
Section 4 – SEA Framewo rk and St. Helens LFRMS 15 SEA Framework 15 Compatibility of Objectives 15 Assessment Methodology 15 Development of the St. Helens LFRMS 16 SEA Findings 16 Recommendations for Mitigation 18
Section 5 – Monitoring 21
Section 6 – Conclusion and N ext Steps 22
B.2 Table References
Table 1 – Requirements of the SEA Directive and where these have been addressed in this SEA Report 8 Table 2 – Stages of the SEA process 10 Table 3 – List of Relevant Plans and Programmes 12 Table 4 – Key Environmental and Sustainability Issues and Likely Evolution without implementation of the 14 LFRMS Table 5 – SEA Objectives 15 Table 6 – Assessment Matrix 15 Table 7 – Local objectives and associated measures of the St. Helens LFRMS 16 Table 8 – Summary of SEA scores for the emerging draft LFRMS 17 Table 9 – Proposed indicators for monitoring the potential significant and uncertain environmental effects of the 21 St. Helens LFRMS Table 10 – Comments from Statutory Consultees on the SEA Scoping Report for the St. He lens Local Flood Risk 23 Management Strategy Table 11 – Key Statistics for Mersey Catchment 33 Table 12 – Key Statistics for Catchment 33 Table 13 – St. Helens Cultural Facilities 37 Table 14 – Compatibility Matrix for SEA Objectives 38
B.3 Figure References
Figure 1 – St. Helens administrative boundary 6 Figure 2 - Environment Agency Flood Zone Map of St. Helens 31
B.4 Appendices
Appendix A - Consultation Comments Received in Relation to the SEA Scoping Report 23 Appendix B - Updated Review of Other Plan, Policies and Programme 25 Appendix C - Updated Baseline Information 30 Appendix D - SEA Objectives Compatibility Test 38 Appendix E - SEA Matrices for the St. Helens LFRMS 39 Appendix F - Strategic Environmental Assessment Framework 50 Appendix G - List of References 51
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C Non Technical Summary
C.i Introduction
C.i.i St. Helens Council, as Lead Local Flood Authority under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (The Act), commissioned Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). The Act places a duty on St. Helens to develop a strategy for local flood risk management. The aim of the SEA process is to identify and assess the potential environmental effects from the implementation of the draft LFRMS.
C.i.ii The aim of the SEA process is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment. The assessment will evaluate the environmental effects resulting from implementation of the draft LFRMS on issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the inter-relationship between the above factors.
C.i.iii St. Helens covers an area of approximately 135 square kilometres comprising an equal division of rural and urban areas. The Borough is located between Liverpool and Manchester, adjoins Knowsley to the west, West Lancashire to the north, Wigan to the east and Halton and Warrington to the south.
C.ii Methodology and Approach
C.ii.i SEA is a statutory assessment process under the SEA Regulations and requires that an assessment be made of the effects that certain plans and programmes will have on the environment. St. Helens came to the decision that the draft LFRMS should be subject to SEA. The SEA was undertaken in line with current best practice and follows Government guidance. The process consist of five stages namely; Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding the scope; Develop options and assess environmental effects; Preparation of an environmental report; Consultation; and Monitoring significant effects
C.iii Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding the scope
C.iii.i The first stage of the SEA process involves identifying the current environmental characteristics within the Borough, formulating a list of environmental objectives, review of relevant plans, programmes and policies and the preparation of a scoping report for consultation with the three statutory consultees which are Natural England, Environment Agency and English Heritage. Environmental data was obtained from a number of reports all of which are referenced at appendix G within the main environmental report. The collection of baseline environmental information shows the following:
‹‹‹ St. Helens has no European designated nature conservation sites. There are two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), one of which became part of St. Helens as a result of a boundary change. There are a number of Local Wildlife Sites and Local Nature Reserves; ‹‹‹ St. Helens lie within the catchment of the Alt and the River Mersey. The main source of flooding is associated with fluvial flooding from Sankey Brook. There are also recorded instances of groundwater and surface water flooding; ‹‹‹ St Helens has a mainly aging population. In 2010/11 St. Helens population was 177,100 following years of decline. Multiple deprivation are amongst the highest in the country which has attributed to a legacy of poor health; ‹‹‹ Compared to its neighbouring authorities of Wigan, Warrington, Halton, Knowsley and West Lancashire St. Helens has the third highest level of domestic and road transport CO2 emissions and fourth highest per capita emissions; ‹‹‹ St. Helens has one Air Quality Management Area; ‹‹‹ St Helens has large areas of grade 1, 2 and 3 agricultural land. A majority of the rural land is within the Green Belt. There is a legacy of contamination arising from its historical industrial development; ‹‹‹ St. Helens has material assets including a range of health, education and community facilities and significant infrastructure including transport, waste, and telecommunication. The borough consist of a network of green infrastructure; and; ‹‹‹ St. Helens has significant heritage assets, designated and not designated, including a number of listed buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Parks and Gardens
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C.iii.ii The environmental baseline information is used to identify whether there are any environmental and sustainability issues within the Borough. The environmental issues, once identified from the baseline are then used to develop a list of environmental objectives (also known as SEA Objectives) and indicators for monitoring. Essentially, the process involves assessing how the implementation of the draft LFRMS will affect the SEA Objectives i.e. negatively or positively. The following environmental and sustainability issues were identified within St. Helens:
‹‹‹ St. Helens valued natural environment must be protected and enhanced; ‹‹‹ A need to protect water resources; ‹‹‹ High level of localised flood risk in localised and urban areas; ‹‹‹ The health and well-being of the population; ‹‹‹ Climate change; ‹‹‹ Residential, commercial and other development currently located in areas of flooding; and ‹‹‹ Large number of heritage assets
C.iii.iii As part of the SEA scoping, the regulations requires that consideration should be given to relationship between the strategy and other relevant plans, programmes and policies so as to better understand the wider framework influencing the choice of actions available to the draft LFRMS. The review confirms that there are no policies, plans, programmes or objectives that have a direct conflict of interest with the objectives of the draft LFRMS.
C.iii.iv The scoping report was submitted to the statutory consultees for a five week consultation. The consultation responses did not raise any significant issues but, in some cases, adjustments were made to the SEA to respond to them. Consultation on the completed Strategy and Environmental Report has also been undertaken, but this has not resulted in any material change to the documents. However, some minor adjustments have been made to the Environmental Report and details of the consultation responses can be found in Appendix A to the main environmental report.
C.iv Developing Options and assessing Effects
C.iv.i This is the main stage of the SEA process. The process was undertaken using a series of assessment matrices which involved assessing the objectives of the draft LFRMS against the SEA Objectives. The appraisal consider the beneficial and adverse, secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term permanent and temporary effects of implementing the Strategy and identify and propose mitigation measures where appropriate.
C.iv.ii The assessment demonstrates that the draft LFRMS will generally have positive effects on the environment, although many were found to be indirect positive effects. In particular, the assessment shows that the draft LFRMS will have a significant positive effect on SEA Objective 1 – Flood Risk and SEA Objective 8 – Infrastructure, Properties and Businesses. This is because the main aims of the LFRMS is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of regulatory procedures, preventative measures and intervention actions, as well as incorporating sustainable, environmental and social improvement alongside the flood risk management duties for St. Helens. No likely significant negative effects on the environment were identified. This was due to the intended outcome of implementing the draft LFRMS which will result in a reduction in flooding within St. Helens and the associated resulting indirect benefits resulting from a reduction in flood risk to the natural and built environment.
C.v Recommendations for Mitigation
C.v.i A range of flood risk management measures have been identified in addition to the ones already set out in the draft LFRMS. They have been proposed to enable the objectives of the draft LFRMS to contribute to wider environmental benefits. The recommendations mainly relate to the dissemination of information and advice to increase the level of awareness and preparedness of flood and coastal erosion risk and the wider environmental benefits linked to managing flood risk to businesses, residents and landowners.
C.vi Monitoring
C.vi.i As part of the SEA process we are required to monitor the environmental effects of implementation of the draft LFRMS. The indicators developed at the scoping stage will be used to monitor the environmental effects of the draft LFRMS. In some cases there are uncertainties regarding the nature of the effects on the SEA Objective. Therefore, it is recommended that monitoring of environmental effects due to implementation of the draft LFRMS is focussed mainly on those objectives where significant or uncertain effects were identified. A list of indicators has been proposed within the Environmental Report. It is recommended that monitoring of the potential environmental effects of the LFRMS is combined with the annual monitoring process carried out for the St. Helens Local Plan where appropriate.
C.vii Conclusion and Next Steps
C.vii.i The findings of this Environmental Report will be taken into account by St. Helens Council as it finalises the draft LFRMS, following the public consultation. The Environmental Report has been updated to reflect the consultation outcome, but there has been no material change to the measures in the final LFRMS that require further assessment. The Council is now proceeding through its formal internal approvals process, the LFRMS will be adopted as a Council strategy.
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1 Introduction (Section.1)
1.1 Background
1.1.1 St. Helens Council, as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, commissioned Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) in June 2012 to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on their Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). The aim of the SEA process is to assess and evaluate the potential environmental effects that may arise from the implementation of the LFRMS. The SEA Report (Hereafter referred to as the ‘Environmental Report’) presents the results of the SEA of the draft LFRMS for public consultation and should be read in conjunction with the draft LFRMS.
1.2 The Study Area
1.2.1 The administrative boundary of St. Helens covers an area of approximately 135 square kilometres, half of which is rural and half urban. St. Helens has seen a rapid and intense rate of development through the industrial revolution and although a relatively modern town, it has a legacy of derelict land and land affected by contamination. The Borough has relatively poor health, high unemployment rates and low educational attainment compared to national levels.
1.2.2 St. Helens is located between the conurbations of Liverpool and Manchester. The Borough adjoins Knowsley to the west, West Lancashire to the north, Wigan to the east and Halton and Warrington to the south. The Borough is served by a range of major transport infrastructure. The M6 and M62 motorways and the West Coast Main Line, which can be accessed at Wigan and Warrington, the Liverpool to Manchester (via Newton-le-Willows) and the two Liverpool to Wigan railway lines, serving a total of ten stations, also pass through the Borough.
Figure 1 St. Helens administrative boundary
1.3 Local Flood Risk Management Strategies
1.3.1 Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (The Act), LLFAs are required to produce a LFRMS setting out how flooding and coastal erosion will be managed in their area. Relevant to St. Helens, the Act defines local flood risk as flood risk from:
‹‹‹ Surface runoff; ‹‹‹ Groundwater; ‹‹‹ Ordinary watercourses (those that do not form part of a ‘main river’);and ‹‹‹ Canals
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1.3.2 The Act places a duty on the LLFA to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management. As LLFA, St. Helens Council will be responsible for ensuring the strategy is put in place. However, the Council must work with other local partners to agree how to develop the Strategy in the way that best suits local circumstances. The Act requires LFRMSs to specify:
‹‹‹ The risk management authorities within the authority’s area; ‹‹‹ The measures proposed to achieve those objectives; ‹‹‹ How and when the measures are expected to be implemented; ‹‹‹ The costs and benefits of those measures, and how they are to be paid for; ‹‹‹ The assessment of local flood risk for the purpose of the strategy; ‹‹‹ How and when the strategy is to be reviewed; and ‹‹‹ How the strategy contributes to the achievement of wider environmental objectives. ‹‹‹ The flood risk management functions that may be exercised by those authorities in relation to the area; ‹‹‹ The objectives for managing local flood risk (including any objectives included in the authority’s flood risk management plan prepared in accordance with the Flood Risk Regulations 2009);
1.3.3 The Strategy must be consistent with the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy and should have regard to the following guiding principles for managing flood and coastal erosion risk set out at the national level:
‹‹‹ Community focussed and partnership working; ‹‹‹ A catchment and coastal cell approach; ‹‹‹ Sustainability; ‹‹‹ Proportionate risk based approach; ‹‹‹ Multiple benefits; and ‹‹‹ Beneficiaries should be allowed and encouraged to invest in local flood risk management.
1.3.4 The main objectives of the national Strategy are as follows:
‹‹‹ To understand the risk of flooding and coastal erosion and work together to put in place long term plans to manage these risks and making sure that other plans take account of them; ‹‹‹ To avoid inappropriate development in areas of existing and future flood and coastal erosion risk and to manage land elsewhere to avoid increasing risks; ‹‹‹ To maintain and improve Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) systems to reduce the likelihood of harm to people and damage to the economy, environment and society- where appropriate given financial, environmental and technical constraints; and ‹‹‹ To ensure a co-ordinated approach is undertaken before during and after flood events and building public awareness of the risk that remains and engaging with people at risk to encourage them to take action to manage the risks that they face.
1.3.5 St. Helens Council will consider the full range of flood risk management measures to develop their Strategy and to meet the above objectives. Resilience and other sustainable approaches which minimise the impact of flooding are expected to be a key aspect of the measures proposed.
1.4 Strategic Environmental Assessment
1.4.1 SEA is a statutory assessment process, required under the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (the SEA Regulations, Statutory Instrument 2004, No 1633) which provide the legislative mechanism for transposing into UK law the European Directive 2001/42/EC ‘on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment’ (the SEA Directive). The SEA Directive and Regulations requires that an assessment be made of the effects that certain plans and programmes will have on the environment.
1.4.2 The Directive’s main objective is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development. The assessment will evaluate significant environmental effects resulting from implementation of the Strategy on issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the inter-relationship between the above factors.
1.4.3 Government Guidance refers to SEA as an iterative process of collecting information, defining alternatives, identifying environmental effects, developing mitigation measures and revising proposals in the light of predicted environmental effects. However, it is important to identify an end-point where further iterations are unlikely to bring further significant improvements in predicting the environmental effects of the plan or programme.
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1.5 Strategic Environmental Assessment
1.5.1 Compliance with SEA Regulations: This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the SEA Regulations. The reporting requirements of the SEA Directive are set out in Table 1 below, which also indicates where in this SEA Report the relevant requirement has been met.
Table 1 - Requirements of the SEA Directive and where these have been addressed in this SEA Report
“An environmental report shall be prepared in which the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme, and reasonable alternatives taking into account the objectives and geographical scope of the plan or programme, are identified, described and evaluated”.
SEA Directive Requirements Where Covered
An outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan or programme, and Sections 3 and 4 relationship with other relevant plans and programmes;
The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely Section 3, Appendix C evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme; The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected; Section 3, Appendix C
Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan or programme Section 3 including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance, such as areas designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EEC .;
The environmental protection , objectives, established at international, community Section 3, Appendix B or national 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;
The likely significant effects on the environment, including on issues such as Section 4, Appendix E biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the interrelationship between the above factors. (Footnote: These effects should include secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term permanent and temporary, positive and negative effects);
The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any Section 4 significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme;
An outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with, and a description Sections 2 and 4 of how the assessment was undertaken including any difficulties (such as technical deficiencies or lack of know-how) encountered in compiling the required information;
a description of measures envisaged concerning monitoring in accordance with Section 5 Art. 10;
a non-technical summary of the information provided under the above headings Separate Document
Consultation: authorities with environmental responsibility, when deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information which must be included in the environmental report (Art. 5.4)
authorities with environmental responsibility and the public, shall be given an early and effective opportunity within appropriate time frames to express their opinion on the draft plan or programme and the accompanying environmental report before the adoption of the plan or programme (Art. 6.1, 6.2)
Other EU Member States, where the implementation of the plan or programme is likely to have significant effects on the environment of that country (Art. 7). Taking the environmental report and the results of the consultations into account in decision -making (Art. 8)
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SEA Directive Requirements Where Covered
Provision of information on the decision: When the plan or programme is adopted, the public and any countries consulted under Art.7 must be informed and the following made available to those so informed:
• the plan or programme as adopted • a statement summarising how environmental considerations have been integrated into the plan or programme and how the environmental report of Article 5, the opinions expressed pursuant to Article 6 and the results of consultations entered into pursuant to Art. 7 have been taken into account in accordance with Art. 8, and the reasons for choosing the plan or programme as adopted, in the light of the other reasonable alternatives dealt with; and • the measures decided concerning monitoring (Art. 9)
Monitoring of the significant environmental effects of the plan's or programme's implementation (Art. 10)
Quality assu rance: environmental reports should be of a sufficient standard to meet the requirements of the SEA Directive (Art. 12).
1.5.2 This chapter ( Chapter 1 ) has described the background to the production of the St. Helens LFRMS and the requirement to undertake SEA. The remainder of this report is structured into the following sections:
Section Details
Section 2 Describes the approach that is being taken to the SEA of the LFRMS and outlines the tasks involved. Section 3 Presents the review of plans policies and programmes, baseline information and key sustainability issues St. Helens. Section 4 Presents the SEA framework that is being used for the SEA of the LFRMS and summarises the findings of the SEA of the draft LFRMS. Section 5 Details the approach that will be taken to monitoring the effects of the LFRMS as it is implemented. Section 6 Presents the conclusions of the SEA and describes the next steps to be undertaken.
1.5.3 The information in the main body of the report is supported by a number of appendices:
Section Details
Appendix A Consultation comments received in relation to the SEA Scoping Report and describes how each one has been addressed; Appendix B Review of plans, policies and programmes of relevance to the SEA. This has been updated since it was originally presented in the SEA Scoping Report, in light of the consultation comments received; Appendix C Updated baseline information for St. Helens, which has again been updated since the Scoping stage; Appendix D SEA Objectives Compatibility Test Appendix E Detailed SEA matrices for the draft LFRMS; Appendix F SEA Framework; and Appendix G List of references
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2 Methodology (Section.2)
2.1 Methodology
2.1.1 The approach for carrying out the SEA of the St.Helens LFRMS is based on current best practice and the following guidance:
“A Practical Guide to the SEA Directive, (September 2005) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government, Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
“This Practical Guide provides information and guidance on how to comply with the European Directive 2001/42/EC “on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment”, known as the Strategic Environmental Assessment or SEA Directive. The Guide is intended to apply to all plans and programmes in the UK which fall within the scope of the Directive. Specific guidance has however been developed for certain types of plans and programmes, particularly land use and spatial planning and transport planning (see paragraphs 1.10 and 1.11 below). Users should refer primarily to the relevant specific guidance when preparing those plans and programmes”.
Article 1 of the Directive states that its objective is “to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development”. These aims are consistent with a range of Government policies on the environment and sustainable development.
“Though usually referred to as the SEA Directive, it does not use the term “strategic environmental assessment” or SEA; rather, it requires an “environmental assessment” of certain plans and programmes. For convenience, however, the term SEA is used in this guidance to mean an environmental assessment which complies with the Directive”.
2.2 SEA Stages and Work Undertaken
2.2.1 Table 2 below sets out the main stages of SEA process. Each stage is then discussed in more detail in the subsequent sections.
2.2.2 Table 2 Stages of the SEA process
SEA Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the Scope
A1: Identifying other relevant plans, programmes and sustainability objectives A2: Collecting baseline information A3: Identifying sustainability issues and problems A4: Developing the SEA Framework A5: Consulting on the Scope of the SEA
SEA Stage B: Develop options, taking account of assessed effects
B1: Testing the project objectives against the SEA Framework B2: Developing the options B3: Predicting the effects of the LFRMS B4: Evaluating the effects of the LFRMS B5: Considering ways of mitigating adverse effects and maximising beneficial effects B6: Proposing measures to monitor the significant effects of implementing the LFRMS
SEA Stage C: Preparing the SEA Report
C1: Preparing the SEA Report
SEA Stage D: Consulting on the LFRMS and the SEA Report
D1: Public participation on the draft project and SEA report D2: Assessing significant changes
SEA Stage E: Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the LFRMS
E1: Finalising aims and methods for monitoring E2: Responding to adverse effects
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2.3 Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope
2.3.1 A SEA Scoping report was prepared and submitted for consultation to the three statutory consultees (Natural England, Environment Agency and English Heritage) between October and November 2012. The SEA Scoping exercise involved the following main tasks:
2.3.2 Identification and review of other relevant policies, plans and programmes, strategies and initiatives which may influence the St. Helens LFRMS. The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme and the environmental characteristics of the area likely to be significantly affected.
2.3.3 A list of the comments received from the consultees, along with a description of how each one has been addressed, is provided in Appendix A. Each of the comments received was reviewed and certain elements of the Environmental Report have been updated as necessary. The revised and updated baseline information and review of plans, policies and programmes are presented in Section 3 and in Appendices C and B respectively. The updated key environmental and sustainability issues are presented at the end of Section 3.
2.4 Stage B: Develop options, taking account of assessed effects
2.4.1 St. Helens (Development Plans Section) conducted a consultation exercise with its risk management authorities and other partners in May 2012. These included others in the Council’s Planning (St. Helens Council), Merseyside Fire and Rescue, Environment Agency, United Utilities, The former British Waterways, upstream and downstream Authorities. Information collected included growth areas, past flooding incidence, future flood risk, flood defence, drainage infrastructure. The findings of the exercise will assist and inform the development of measures to be included within the St. Helens LFRMS.
2.4.2 The consultation exercise indicated that there are no nationally significant or historical local significant flooding incidences within the Borough. It was found that there are instances of flooding that are not significant mainly attributed by fluvial flooding from Sankey Brook and its tributaries. It was also found that there were incidences of internal and external surface water flooding to properties, and other less significant instances of fluvial flooding.
2.4.3 St. Helens Council provided MEAS with an early internal draft of the LFRMS in order to enable the assessment process to inform its development. The draft LFRMS included a host of draft objectives and indicative measures through which they could be achieved. It is important to note that the Act, which enables the production of LFRMS, places specific duties and obligations for LLFA in respect of the management of flood risk. Therefore there will, in some instance, be very limited scope for the SEA to influence certain actions within the LFRMS. Consequently the St. Helens LFRMS will not develop or introduce new policies but will bring together existing approaches and policies for flood risk management.
2.4.4 The scope of the assessment will therefore be limited to the assessment and evaluation of an approach to flood risk managing rather than new policy options. A review of the early draft LFRMS during the scoping stage indicated that there are no ‘reasonable alternatives’ to the measures outlined within the draft LFRMS. However, the SEA process has identified, through the assessment an evaluation process, minor alterations and areas within the LFRMS where more emphasis needs to be placed on environmental protection and enhancement and flood risk management measures, particularly in respect of climate change. If any alternatives are identified during the consultation on the draft LFRMS, they will be assessed against each of the SEA objectives during future iteration of the SEA report.
2.5 Stage C: Preparing the SEA Report
2.5.1 This report is the output of Stage C.
2.6 Stage D: Consulting on the LFRMS and the SEA Report
2.6.1 A consultation on the draft LFRMS is taking place between May and June 2013, with the report being made available to the statutory environmental bodies as well as a range of other consultees and the wider public. This SEA Report is being published alongside the draft LFRMS during the consultation. Comments received will be taken into account as the LFRMS is finalised. Any comments relating specifically to the SEA will be taken into account and addressed where relevant as the SEA Report is updated to reflect the final version of the LFRMS.
2.7 Stage E: Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the LFRMS
2.7.1 Proposals for monitoring the significant effects of implementing the LFRMS are set out in Section 5 of this report, and will be reviewed to reflect the final version of the LFRMS.
2.8 Difficulties encountered
2.8.1 During the SEA it was at times difficult to reach a judgement regarding the likely effect of a particular measure in the LFRMS on a number of the SEA objectives, because of a lack of information regarding exactly how and where particular actions would be carried out. As such, there is uncertainty attached to a number of the potential effects.
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3 Reviews of Plans, Policies & Programmes & Baseline Information (Section.3)
3.1 Plans Policies and Programme (PPPs)
3.1.1 Annex 1(a) of the SEA Directive requires “an outline of the relationship with other relevant plans or programmes”. The SEA is required to consider the relationship between the Strategy and other relevant plans and programmes, so as to better understand the wider framework influencing the choice of actions available to the LFRMS, particularly where there are environmental protection objectives that must be addressed.
3.1.2 The review of plans and programmes will assist with the following:
‹‹‹ The baseline data collation process by identifying key indicators and baseline trends; ‹‹‹ The development of the SEA Framework (objectives, indicators and targets where appropriate); ‹‹‹ The identification of environmental objectives of other relevant plans or programmes that should guide the SEA; ‹‹‹ Determining whether there are any clear potential conflicts or challenges between the plans, programmes and environmental protection objectives and the emerging strategy which is the subject of the SEA process.
3.1.3 As part of the scoping stage of the SEA in October 2012, a review was undertaken of other relevant plans, policies and programmes in relation to their objectives and implications for the LFRMS and the SEA. A significant amount of information was drawn from the SA/SEA of St. Helens Local Development Framework (LDF).
3.1.4 However, in light of consultation comments received in relation to the SEA Scoping Report, the list of relevant PPPs has been amended. The full updated review is presented in Appendix B. The international, national, regional and local policies, plans and programmes considered in the review are listed in Table 3 below.
3.1.5 Table 3 List of Relevant Plans and Programmes
In ternational Plans, Programmes and / or Environmental Objectives
EU Floods Directive - Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks, 2007 EU Water Framework Directive - Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy, 2000 Convention on Biodiversity, 1993
National Plans, Programmes and / or Environmental Objectives
The Flood and Water Management Act, September 2011 The Flood Risk Regulations, 2009 The National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England, 2011 The National Planning Policy Framework, 2012 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2010
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (As amended) UK Biodiversity Action Plan, Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000 Making Space for Water – Taking forward a new Government strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England, 2005
Securing the Future: Delivering the Sustainable Development Strategy, 2005 Water Act, 2003 Land Drainage Act, 1991, as amended 2004 Localism Act 2011 Future Water, The Government’s Water Strategy for England, 2008
Water for People and the Environment; Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales, 2009 The Impact of Flooding on Urban and Rural Communities, 2005 Directing the Flow: Priorities for Future Water Policy, 2002 EA Policy: Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, 2002 Natural Environment White Paper: The natural choice: securing the value of nature (Defra June 2011)
Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services Natural England’s Natural Area Strategy The Historic Environment: a Force for Our Future (2001) Our Towns and Cities, the Future- Delivering an Urban Renaissance. White Paper. DETR (2000)
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Regional Plans, Programmes and / or Environmental Objectives
North West of England Plan: Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021 North West River Basin Management Plan, 2009 North West of England Plan: Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021 North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan SMP2, 2011
Local Plans, Programmes and / or Environmental Objectives
Mersey Estuary Catchment Flood Management Plan, 2009 Mid Mersey Water Cycle Study, 2011 St. Helens Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, 2009 St. Helens Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, 2011 St. Helens UDP, 1998 St. Helens Core Strategy, 2012
3.2 Summary of the findings of the Plans, Policies and Programmes review
3.2.1 The review has reflected the specialised purpose and limited scope of the Strategy but has also identified consistency in approach with a significant number of other Plans, Programmes and Objectives in respect of the need for co- ordination and co-operation between individuals and organisation to assess and manage flood risk.
3.2.2 The review confirms that there are no policies, plans, programmes or objectives that have a direct conflict of interest with the objectives of the Strategy. Overall the Strategy has the potential to complement a number of existing and proposed plans.
3.3 Baseline Information
3.3.1 Annex 1 of the SEA Directive requires that the Environmental Report shall include information on the ‘relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme’ and ‘the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected’.
3.3.2 The collection of baseline information is a key part of the SEA, and it requires the provision of information to characterise an area, including the current state of the environment, and identification of trends that are likely to continue without the implementation of the Strategy.
3.3.3 The data will also be used as a basis for predicting potential environmental impacts and to suggest suitable indicators to monitor the effectiveness of the Strategy in addressing the identified issues. The baseline information collated in relation to St. Helens was originally presented in the SEA Scoping Report (October 2012).
3.3.4 In light of consultation comments received in relation to the Scoping Report, the baseline information has been amended and added to in places, and the updated version is presented in Appendix C.
3.4 Key Environmental and Sustainability Issues
3.4.1 Annex 1 of the SEA Directive requires that the Environmental Report shall include information on any existing problems which are relevant to the plan or programme including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance such as areas designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC and 92/43/EC.
3.4.2 Reviewing the relevant plans, policies and programmes and considering the baseline character of the area highlights a number of environmental and sustainability issues within St. Helens, as set out in Table 4. These are relevant to producing the LFRMS and have been considered throughout the SEA process, in particular helping to inform the SEA objectives developed at the Scoping stage.
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3.4.3 Table 4 Key Environmental and Sustainability Issues and Likely Evolution without implementation of the LFRMS
Key Environmental and Likely Evolution without the LFRMS Sustainability Issues St. Helens valued natural In the absence of the flood risk management through implementation of the St. environment which hosts a Helens LFRMS, there are other flood management plans and policies such as variety of designated nature the Catchment Flood Management that would still have benefits in terms of conservation sites needs to be protecting the natural environment from floo ding and managing the risks. protected and enhanced where Biodiversity management measures through implementation of the North possible Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan and policies within the adopted Core Strategy would still apply which would directly provide protection and enhancement to nature conservation sites and other areas natural valuable landscapes. However, implementation of the LFRMS will have a direct effect on how flood risk will be managed within the Borough and the strategy and one of the requirements is to ensure that contribution to wider environmental objectives.
The need to comply with the The requirement to comply with the Water Framework Directive and to protect requirements of the Water and improve the quality of water resources would still apply even without Framework Directive and implementation of the LFRMS and would be met by other policies and plans, protecting water resources most importantly through implementation of the North West River Basin Management Plan. However, the LFRMS will aim to ensure that flood risk management measures in St. Helens do not adversely affect water quality or quantity and therefore it is reasonable to conclude that the rate of improvement to water quality may decrease without implementation of the LFRMS.
High level of surface water flood Without implementation of the LFRMS, there are other flood management risk in localised and urban areas plans such as the Catchment Flood Management and other policies to manage flood risk in the adopted Local Plan Core Strategy. However, these are less likely to have a direct and significant effect on the management of local flood risk. The LFRMS will provide better co-operation with other authorities, identification of responsibilities and champions for risk management measures.
The risk of flooding on the health Without implementation of the LFRMS, there are other flood management and well being of the population plans such as the Catchment Flood Management and policies to manage flood risk in the adopted Local Plan Core Strategy that will have benefits in respect of protecting local people’s health and well being from the impacts of flooding However, these are less likely to have a direct and significant effect on the protection of human health through the management of local flood risk than the LFRMS would.
Increase in flood risk resulting The issue is likely to continue as present. The LFRMS is unlikely to have a from Climate Change significant effect on the causative factors of climate change. However, the LFRMS will support adaptation to climate change by increasing resilience and minimising the effect of increased flooding by managing future risk. Therefore, without implementation of the LFRMS, the impact of climate change on flooding will become more prevalent.
Residential, Commercial and In the absence of the LFRMS, the issue is likely to continue as present. other development (including However, there are policies in the adopted Local Plan Core Strategy would still infrastructure) located in areas apply, which aim to ensure that new development is steered away from areas of high flood risk of higher flood risk. Other flood management plans and policies such as the Catchment Flood Management Plans as well as policies to manage flood risk in the adopted Local Plan Core Strategy would still apply and should have some benefit in terms of reducing the flood risk facing existing residential properties and other development from the potential adverse impacts of flooding. However, these are likely to have less direct and significant effects on the management of local flood risk than implementation of the LFRMS would.
Large number of heritage assets In the absence of the flood risk management achieved through implementation such as listed buildings which of the LFRMS, other flood management plans and policies such as the require management (including Catchment Flood Management Plans and policies to manage flood risk in the in terms of their setting). adopted Local Plan Core Strategy would still apply and should have some benefit in terms of protecting heritage assets from the potential adverse impacts of flooding. However, these are likely to have less direct and significant effects on the protection of heritage assets through the management of local flood risk than implementation of the LFRMS would.
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4 SEA Framework and St Helens LFRMS (Section.4)
4.1 SEA Framework
4.1.1 The SEA framework was prepared and submitted for consultation as part of the Scoping stage of the assessment and has since been revised in light of the consultation response. The SEA objectives were developed having undertaken a strategic analysis of the baseline information, a review of plans and programmes and having identified key environmental issues. The ultimate aim of the SEA framework is to develop a coherent and clear list of environmental objectives to be used as an evaluation tool to help show whether the objectives of the Strategy are beneficial (or adverse) for the environment, but also to compare the environmental effects of alternative options. The SEA objectives will be used to evaluate the nature and degree of impacts and whether implementation of the Strategy will give rise to significant environmental effects.
4.1.2 Table 5 SEA Objectives
SEA Objectives
To minimise the risk of flooding. Reducing the contribution to climate change and enabling adaptation to climate change which is already locked in. To protect and maintain the ecological condition of water resources. Protecting and enhancing biodiversity, including both habitats and species, and maintaining and enhancing nationally, regionally and locally designated wildlife sites and priority habitats. Maintaining and enhancing human health, including enhanced health from access to green spaces and improved equitable access to a healthier, happier and more sustainable lifestyle. To protect best quality soil and enhance the quality and character of the landscape. Conserving and enhancing geodiversity. To minimise adverse impacts of local flood risk on existing and future key infrastructure, properties and businesses. To minimise the impact of flooding on the character and physical attributes of St. Helens historic environment and heritage assets of historic, archaeological and architectural interest and their settings.
4.2 Compatibility of Objectives
4.2.1 As part of the Scoping Stage, the SEA objectives were tested against each other to identify whether the objectives were compatible. In carrying out the compatibility test it was found that the objectives were largely compatible with each other. However, there were a number of uncertainties. To fully confirm whether the SEA objectives are compatible with each other, we need to know the nature of the flood risk measures and how they would be implemented within the LFRMS. Until this is known the compatibility of all the objectives cannot be fully confirmed. The compatibility test is included in Appendix D.
4.3 Assessment Methodology
4.3.1 The SEA will appraise the individual objectives and measures of the Strategy against the SEA objectives outlined in the SEA framework to assess the environmental effects of the implementation of the LFRMS. The assessment considers the beneficial and adverse, secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term permanent and temporary effects of implementing the Strategy in accordance with Annex 1 of the SEA Directive, and identifies and proposes mitigation measures where appropriate. Results of the assessment will then be considered in light of the evolution of the environment in the absence of the Strategy. The findings will be presented in an assessment matrix format like that of Table 6 and colour coding will be used for greater clarity. The matrix will be supplemented by a narrative of the potential effects and mitigation measures where appropriate.
4.3.2 Table 6 SEA Assessment Matrix
Sustainability Objectives
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Short Term Medium Term Long term
+ + Significant Positive + Positive ? Uncertain - Negative - - Significantly Negative 0 No Impact
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4.4 Development of the St. Helens LFRMS
4.4.1 A review of past and future flood risk was undertaken as part of the St. Helens Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has identified that a Flood Risk Area containing a cluster of over 30,000 people would be considered for significant European importance. It was also found through modelling outputs provided by the Environment Agency that up to 17,400 properties within St. Helens could be at risk from surface water flooding in a 0.5% (1 in 200) annual probability rainfall event. Therefore the scale of risk is not sufficient for St. Helens to be considered a ‘flood risk area’ reportable at a European level.
4.4.2 It is important to note that the modelling used to produced the surface water flood risk maps do not typically represent features such as culverts and narrow channels. The Surface Water Management Plan (preparation Stage) February 2012, states that the modelling report for the watercourses within the study area have significant capacity and therefore the extent of surface water flooding could be significantly less than that presented within the EA modelling. However, it is the responsibility of the LLFA to decide what it considers as a past flood with 'significant harmful consequences' at a local level. St. Helens has decided that a flood of 'significant harmful consequences' would have one or more of the following characteristics:
‹‹‹ 200 People; ‹‹‹ 83 houses (200 people using an average of 2.5 people per property) or more, or; ‹‹‹ 1 piece of Critical Infrastructure.
4.4.3 The results of the PFRA showed that St. Helens Council has no flooding issues or significant harmful consequences. However, it was identified that there are a number of flooding problems that have potential to become greater issues that are considered locally important to St. Helens Council. The risks identified within the PRFA will be managed through the development of the St. Helens LFRMS. Given the nature of the risks identified within the PFRA, it is felt that the preferred option is for the St. Helens LFRMS to build upon existing approaches to flood risk management and develop this as part of St. Helens Council’s new responsibility as LLFA.
4.4.4 Table 7 showing the local objectives and associated measures of the St. Helens LFRMS are as follows:
Aim Ob jectives Measures To produce a 1 Risk management Authorities and Legislation; roles and responsibilities; governance coherent plan to Responsibilities To clearly set out the arrangement demonstrate how different types of flooding, who is the Council will responsible and Governance arrangements work with 2 Assessment of Flood Risk in St. Helens area; data availability; flood mapping from individuals, the St Helens To assess the total risk of all sources and their potential impact; effects of climate community and flooding from all sources in St. Helens change organisations to holistically 3 Managing Local Flood Risk Partnership; spatial planning; sustainable drainage manage flood risk To manage flood risk and the impact of systems; enforcement and consenting powers; works in a sustainable flooding through a range of activities and by powers; asset management; reservoirs; designating manner. effective management features; investigations; communications; emergency response 4 Actions and Interventions to Reduce St. Helens approach to maintenance regime and Flood Risk To develop actions and works; works and maintenance schedules; improving interventions to reduce flood risk information provision; funding improvements
5 Environment and Sustainability Environmental objectives; integrating sustainable To undertake flood risk management in a practices through all flood risk actions sustainable manner
4.5 SEA Findings
4.5.1 The assessment was undertaken using an assessment matrix found at Appendix E . The matrices present the detailed results of the assessment of each of the objectives (and associated measures) in the draft LFRMS against the SEA objectives. The assessment demonstrates that the LFRMS objectives will generally have positive effects on the environment, although a significant number were found to be indirect positive effects. This was due to the likely outcome of implementing the LFRMS which will result in a reduction in flooding within St. Helens and the associated resulting indirect benefits resulting from a reduction in flood risk to the natural and built environment.
4.5.2 In addition, the draft LFRMS is a high level strategic document which emphasises more on issues pertaining to improving knowledge and understanding of flood risk, identifying responsibilities and drawing together existing information to reduce and manage the risks of flooding within St. Helens rather than prescribing physical works or actions on the ground. However, when taken as a whole, the combined effect of all the LFRMS objectives and measures is expected to have an overall positive effect on the environment. Following the assessment a range of flood risk management measures have been identified in addition to the ones already set out in the draft LFRMS. These have been proposed to enable the objectives of the draft LFRMS to contribute to wider environmental benefits. Table 8 presents a summary of the results.
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4.5.3 Table 8 Summary of SEA scores for the emerging draft LFRMS
Key
++ Significant positive effect;
+ Positive effect
+0 Indirect positive effects
Businesses Businesses ? Effects uncertain
Interest Archaeological SEA Objective 1 – Flood Risk Risk Flood 1 – SEA Objective SEA Objective 4 - Biodiversity Biodiversity 4 - SEA Objective ?+ Effects are uncertain but expected to be beneficial 7 - Geodiversity SEA Objective SEA Objective 2 – Climate Change Change 2 – Climate SEA Objective Resource 3 – Water SEA Objective SEA Objective 6 – Soil and Landscape Landscape and Soil 6 – SEA Objective Being Well and 5 – Heath SEA Objective and Architectural 9 – Historic, SEA Objective SEA Objective 8 – Infrastructure, Properties and and Properties Infrastructure, 8 – SEA Objective
Objective 1: To clearly set out the different types of flooding, who is ?+ ?+ ?+ ?+ ?+ ? ?+ ?+ ?+ responsible and governance arrangement
Objective 2: To assess the total risk of flooding from all sources in St. Helens + +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0
Objective 3: To manage flood risk and the impact of flooding through a range ++ +0 +0 +0 + +0 +0 ++ + of activities and effective management
Objective 4: To develop actions and interventions to reduce flood risk ++ +0 + + + +0 +0 ++ +
? + + +0 + + + +0 Objective 5: To undertake flood risk management in a sustainable manner ++
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4.6 Recommendations for Mitigation
4.6.1 Annex I of the SEA Directive requires the Environmental Report to include measures to prevent, reduce or offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme. The SEA shows that none of the LFRMS objectives will have an adverse effect when assessed against the SEA objectives. However, due to the uncertainty with the nature of the potential effects of some of the LFRMS objectives, a number of recommendations have been proposed with an aim to enhance the likelihood of positive effects. The recommendations proposed largely relate to LFRMS Objective 1 and measure 2.2 of LFRMS Objective 2.
4.6.2 Under the Act, LLFA and other flood and coastal erosion risk management authorities should aim to make a contribution towards the achievement of sustainable development when exercising their flood and coastal erosion risk management function. The recommendations below also take account of the DEFRA publication ‘Guidance for risk management authorities on sustainable development in relation to their flood and coastal erosion risk management functions’.
4.6.3 Overall, no negative effects, either minor or significant, have been identified in relation to any of the LFRMS measures that will require mitigation. This is because the LFRMS is a document which is intended to have positive effects on the environment, and aims to mitigate potential adverse environmental impacts from flooding. However, some of the potential positive effects were uncertain. This was mainly in relation to LFRMS Objective 1, which is expected due to the lack of detail information regarding the advice / information that will be provided by the LLFA and exactly what land management activities land owners and businesses will be encouraged to implement and where, if necessary.
4.6.4 It is considered that LFRMS Objective 5 provide overall mitigation of the potential for any physical works or actions resulting from the LFRMS to have negative environmental effects, as they require environmental considerations to be embedded in the LLFA flood risk management duties. The uncertainty attached to the potential effects of LFRMS Objective 5 (Environment and Sustainability) on SEA Objective 2 could be removed if the wording within that section of the draft LFRMS takes account of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change adaptation measures.
4.7 SEA Objective 1: Flood Risk
4.7.1 LFRMS Objective 1 – In taking account of the safety and wellbeing of people, the LLFA should develop a mechanism by which advice and information can be effectively disseminated for maximum coverage across the Borough to increase the level of awareness and preparedness of flood and coastal erosion risk, for e.g. web site signposting to more information.
4.7.2 The LLFA should provide information and advice that will assist and empower the community to take the responsibility for managing and protecting property and assets from the adverse effects should flooding occur. Amongst other things this could include details of flood resilience measures (and retrofitting where necessary) for the community, economy, natural, historic, built and social environment, flood warning systems / evacuation and emergency procedures, effective land management measures to reduce runoff, areas that are prone or will be prone to flooding in future.
4.7.3 In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Flood Risk are taken into account and appropriately mitigation is deployed.
4.8 SEA Objective 2: Climate Change
4.8.1 LFRMS Objective 1, Objective 2 (measure 2.2) – Information and advice provided by the LLFA to individuals, businesses and community should highlight the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the importance of adaptation measures such as design resilience (retrofitting), land management (SUDS and flood storage), in managing the risk of flooding.
4.8.2 Of particular relevance, advice should be provided to the Planning function, on the importance and benefits in respect of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging environmental performance standards such as BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes during pre-application discussions for prospective development proposals and when considering planning applications. In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Climate Change are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
4.8.3 LFRMS Objective 5 – The LLFA should ensure that any works that are undertaken for flood risk management purposes take account of its contribution to climate change. The environmental objectives and measures specific to the LFRMS should include an objective for individuals, businesses and the community, in discharging their duties for flood risk management, to aim to decrease greenhouse gas emissions where possible and does not compromise the flood risk management measure.
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4.9 SEA Objective 3: Water Resource
4.9.1 LFRMS Objective 1, Objective 2 (measure 2.2) – Information and advice should cover appropriate land management measures to reduce silty and contaminated run-off, the importance and benefits of SuDS as part of an effective drainage design to cater for extreme flooding and improved run-off quality. The LLFA should provide information and advice to raising awareness of impact of flooding to water quality from soil erosion, contaminated run-off from chemical fertilisers and combined sewer overflows.
4.9.2 The LLFA should make best use of strategic studies such as River Basin Management Plans, Catchment Flood Management Plans and Strategic Flood Risk Assessments as source of information on water quality within the Borough and any mitigation measures to improve quality. In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Water Resources are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
4.10 SEA Objective 4: Biodiversity
4.10.1 LFRMS Objective 1, Objective 2 (measure 2.2) – Information and advice should highlight how biodiversity and nature conservation protection and enhancement measures can be incorporated within the LLFA, individuals and community duties to manage local flood risk. Effective land management options such as storage areas and SuDS should be designed to incorporate biodiversity enhancement.
4.10.2 The LLFA should publish and explain the protection afforded to habitats and species under legislations such as the Habitats Regulations and the Wildlife and Countryside Act and local plans such as North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan. Where applicable flood and erosion risk management should be undertaken in such a way which create and link habitats and promotes green infrastructure as well as conserving important wildlife sites. In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Biodiversity are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
4.11 SEA Objective 5: Health and Well-Being
4.11.1 LFRMS Objective 1, Objective 2 (measure 2.2) – The benefits of green spaces to human health and well being should be recognised. The advice should aim to encourage the incorporation of multifunctional areas that can be used for flood risk management and functional green space. For example, the delivery of land management options for managing flood risk, e.g. flood storage, attenuation, should where possible aim to provide usable areas for recreational and leisure activities thuis making use of multiple sustainability benefits.
4.11.2 The delivery of SuDS schemes are part of new development should provide green space function where practicable and subject to adequate health and safety. In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Health and Well- Being are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
4.12 SEA Objective 6: Soil and Landscape
4.12.1 LFRMS Objective 1, Objective 2 (measure 2.2) – Soil is essentially a non-renewable resource, which provides a number of functions and services to society. The LLFA should provide information and advice on the benefits of soils in relation to surface water storage, attenuation and drainage but also the wider benefits to society including, food and fibre production, support of ecology and landscape, a platform for development, basis for community green spaces and a store for carbon.
4.12.2 Advice should be provided to planners, landowners and businesses, that where flood risk management works involves land take, for e.g. flood storage, attenuation and structural defence, preference should be given to areas of lower soil quality where this does not compromise flood risk reduction measures. Where appropriate new development proposals should be required to put proposals forward with respect to soil management with an aim to restore the natural capacity of soil to hold water. In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Soil and Landscape are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
4.13 SEA Objective 7: Geo-diversity
4.13.1 LFRMS Objective 1, Objective 2 (measure 2.2) – LLFA should provide information and advice on the importance of St. Helens geological features including Local Geological Sites. The local geology will affect what land management options can be employed to manage flood risk. The nature of the underlying geology can restrict infiltration, and therefore constrains the scope for land management options. St. Helens has a legacy of land contamination arising from industrial development and other related operational practices.
4.13.2 The distribution and nature of contamination is not fully known and therefore land owners, businesses who may wish to undertake flood risk management works must be made aware of this potential issue. In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Geo-diversity are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
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4.14 SEA Objective 8: Infrastructure, Properties and Businesses
4.14.1 LFRMS Objective 1 – In taking account of the safety and wellbeing of people, the LLFA should develop a mechanism by which advice and information can be effectively disseminated for maximum coverage across the Borough to increase the level of awareness and preparedness of flood and coastal erosion risk. 4.14.2 4.14.3 The LLFA should provide information and advice that will assist and empower the community to take the responsibility for managing and protecting property and assets from the adverse effects should flooding occur. Amongst other things this could include details of flood resilience measures (and retrofitting where necessary) for the community, economy, natural, historic, built and social environment, flood warning systems / evacuation and emergency procedures, effective land management measures to reduce runoff, areas that are prone or will be prone to flooding in future.
4.14.4 In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to Infrastructure, Property and Businesses are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
4.15 SEA Objective 9: Historic, Architectural and Archaeological Interest
4.15.1 LFRMS Objective 1 – LLFA should provide information and advice on the importance of St Helen designated and non-designated heritage assets. The location and presence of these sites will affect what land management options can be employed to manage flood risk.
4.15.2 The advice provided by the LLFA to individuals, businesses and community should highlight the importance of adaptation measures such as design resilience (retrofitting) for historic buildings to prevent future deterioration of heritage assets. Also, using good design for flood risk management measures, particularly structural defences, river enhancement and other land management options to improve their look and feel and respect the settings of historic buildings.
4.15.3 In developing actions arising from the Strategy for implementation, appropriate specialist expertise will be consulted where relevant to ensure that issues in relation to the Historic Environment are taken into account and appropriate mitigation is deployed.
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5 Monitoring (Section.5)
5.1 Monitoring
5.1.1 The SEA Directive requires that “member states shall monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of plans or programmes… in order, inter alia, to identify at an early stage, unforeseen adverse effects, and be able to undertake appropriate remedial action” (Article 10.1) and that the environmental report should provide information on “a description of the measures envisaged concerning monitoring” (Annex 1 (i)). Monitoring proposals should be designed to provide information that can be used to highlight specific issues and significant effects, and which could help decision-making. A number of the measures in the draft LFRMS have the potential for positive effects on the SEA objectives, although no likely significant negative effects on the environment were identified. There are also a number of SEA objectives for which there are uncertainties regarding the nature of the effects.
5.1.2 Therefore, it is recommended that monitoring of environmental effects due to implementation of the LFRMS is undertaken in relation only to those objectives where significant or uncertain effects were identified. Table 9 sets out a number of suggested indicators for monitoring the potential environmental effects of implementing the LFRMS, some of which draw on information that are already being collected for the Core Strategy or Development Control purposes. To achieve efficiency in monitoring of the environmental effects of the LFRMS, it is important that the indicators proposed are consistent, where appropriate and complement sustainability effects monitoring arrangement for other plans and strategies developed by St. Helens Council (in particular the Core Strategy), also as some of the indicators proposed will be relevant to the LFRMS. It is important to note that the indicators were initially introduced at the scoping stage and have been subject to a five week consultation with the statutory consultees.
5.1.3 Annual Monitoring Reports are already produced for the Local Development Framework (including the Core Strategy), and monitoring proposals for the Core Strategy are presented in the Proposed Submission version. Therefore, it is recommended that monitoring of the potential environmental effects of the LFRMS be combined with the annual monitoring process carried out for the LDF where these are found to be appropriate. Table 9 Proposed indicators for monitoring the potential significant and uncertain environmental effects of the St. Helens LFRMS.
SEA Objectives for which potential significant Suggested indicators for monitoring effects of
positive or uncertain effects have been identified LFRMS To minimise the risk of flooding (Significant positive effects Number of new developments permitted in areas of flood identified in relation to LFRMS Objectives 3, 4 and 5 and uncertain risk; Number of flood defences developed effects identified in relation to LFRMS Objective 1)
Reducing the contribution to climate change and enabling Mitigation measures and actions implemented by the adaptation to climate change which is already locked in (Uncertain strategy which takes account of the impact of climate effects identified in relation to LFRMS Objectives 1 and 5) change To protect and maintain the ecological condition of water Ecological status of waterbodies resources (Uncertain effects identified in relation to LFRMS Objective 1) Protecting and enhancing biodiversity, including both habitats and Habitat creation and compensation resulting from the species, and maintaining and enhancing nationally, regionally and Strategy policies, actions and measures; locally designated wildlife sites and priority habitats (Uncertain Loss of habitat resulting from the Strategy policies, actions effects identified in relation to LFRMS Objective 1) and measures;
Maintaining and enhancing human health, including enhanced Number of flood related injuries; health from access to green spaces and improved equitable access to a healthier, happier and more sustainable lifestyle Change in area / number / quality of public open spaces, (Uncertain effects identified in relation to LFRMS Objective 1) recreational and amenity facilities resulting from the Strategy policies, actions and measures. To protect best quality soil and enhance the quality and character Number of flood alleviation / defence developments to be of the landscape (Uncertain effects identified in relation to LFRMS located within the Green Belt. Objective 1) Conserving and enhancing geodiversity (Uncertain effects Area / number of incidences where Grade 1, 2 or 3 soil is identified in relation to LFRMS Objective 1) lost due to need for flood alleviation / defences; To minimise adverse impacts of local flood risk on existing and Number of properties / businesses at risk of flooding; future key infrastructure, properties and businesses (Significant positive effect identified in relation to LFRMS Objectives 3 and 4 Number and severity of incidents leading to disruption or and uncertain effects identified in relation to LFRMS Objective 1) damage to St. Helens social and physical infrastructure.
To minimise the impact of flooding on the character and physical The number of Strategy policies, measures and actions attributes of St. Helens historic environment and heritage assets of developed and implemented to protect St. Helens heritage historic, archaeological and architectural interest and their settings site from flooding; (Uncertain effects identified in relation to LFRMS Objective 1) Flood alleviation / defences developed that affect the integrity and setting of St. Helens heritage sites.
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6 Conclusion and Next Steps (Section.6)
6.1 Next Steps
6.1.1 None of the measures in the draft LFRMS are likely to have significant negative effects on any of the SEA objectives. This is because of the nature of the LFRMS, which has an underlying aim of environmental protection through flood risk management, meaning that the effects of the strategy are largely positive.
6.1.2 The findings of this SEA Report will be taken into account by St. Helens Council as it finalises the draft LFRMS, following public consultation. The SEA Report has been updated to reflect the results of consultation but there were no changes made to the measures in the final LFRMS that resulted in a need to revise the assessment findings. The Council is now proceeding to complete its formal internal approvals process to adopt the LFRMS as a Council strategy.
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7 Appendices (Section.7)
7.1 Appendix A – Consultation Comments Received in Relation to the SEA Scoping Repor t
7.1.1 Table 10 Comments from Statutory Consultees on the SEA Scoping Report for the St. Helens Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Statutory Consultee Comment Response Natural England We have considered the scoping report and overall we consider it generally fit for purpose Noted. and that it follows current Government advice on structure, content and approach to Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA). We have no further specific or detailed comments to make at this stage.
Environment Agency We have no comments to make. Noted.
English Heritage Section 3.82 -3.85 - The SEA should explicitly scope in non-designated Cultural Heritage Noted. The evidence base has been updated to highlight the assets. Known sites are listed and described in the Local Historic Environment Record potential presence of non-designated Cultural Heritage asset and (HER). Many of these are of national or regional significance (as well as local significance) the two registered parks and gardens. The Merseyside HER holds even though they are not protected by national legislation. In addition to the designated information on non-designated heritage assets predominantly of sites already listed in sections 3.82 - 3.85 (including Table 6 St. Helens Cultural historic and archaeological interest in the form of individual sites Facilities) there are two registered parks and gardens which should also be included. and remains above / below ground/under water, buildings, artifacts, landscapes.
The data is kept at the Museum of Liverpool. However, at present, the data for non-designated assets / sites is not kept in a readily accessible format for SEA reporting purposes. Local non- designated Heritage assets will be considered as part of the assessment and will be considered should there be a need to undertaken flood risk management works.
English Heritage Appendix B - The same consideration of non-designated heritage assets should be made Noted. Consideration has been given to non-designated heritage as in Section 3. The potential indicator (SEA Objective 9) should delete the word assets and the baseline has been updated. The indicator has been 'designated'. revised to take account of non-designated sites.
English Heritage Table 3 (List of relevant plans and programmes) - The 2012 National Planning Policy Noted. The National Planning Policy Statement has been Framework should be listed and described in the National section. NB it is incorrectly accurately amended and referenced. referred to as a Statement rather than a Framework in one box in Appendix A.
7.1.2 Consultation on the Strategy and Environmental Report also brought a range of comment which are set out in full in the document “ Consultation Response – Lead Flood Risk Management Strategy 17 th March - 9th May 2014” published by St Helens Council. The table below summarises the comments relevant to the SEA and Environmental Report, and briefly describes how they have been responded to.
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7.1.3 Table 11 Comments from Statutory Consultees on the Environmental Report for the St. Helens Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Statutory Consultee Comment Response Natural England Acknowledgement that comments made at the Scoping stage have been considered and Noted. No action required. incorporated. No further comment in relation to SEA.
Environment Agency Local Authority and Environment Agency Contaminated Land Teams should be consulted Noted. No action required for Environmental Report. Hazard at an early stage for technical advice and guidance. registers will be consulted in the planning of any actions and appropriate expertise consulted.
English Heritage Comments made on SEA with reference to new EH guidance on SEA published in 2013. Comments noted. Existence of new Guidance noted for future Comments re-iterated the methodological principles set-out in the guidance and made reference but it is considered that the SEA Report has been comments relating to the structure of the report and Non-technical Summary, including the adequately tailored to the status and level of the LFRMS. The involvement of Historic Environment specialist staff in preparing the SEA. Planning Authority has been involved in developing the Strategy and SEA. Adjustments have been made to the structure of the Environmental Report and Non-technical Summary to reflect the comments in respect of layout. Historic Environment expertise will be consulted in the preparation of any actions arising from the LFRMS.
National Farmers Union Comments made on LFRMS only. No action needed for SEA or Environmental Report.
Natural England Acknowledgement that comments made at the Scoping stage have been considered and Noted. No action required. incorporated. No further comment in relation to SEA.
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7.2 Appendix B – Updated Review of Other Plans, Policies and Programmes
7.2.1 International Plans and Programmes
Plan, Policy and Main aims and objectives Implication for the Strategy Programme EU Floods Directive - Directive The aim of Directive 2007/60/EC is to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, The Strategy will complement the 2007/60/EC on the assessment cultural heritage and economic activity. The Directive requires Member States to first carry out a preliminary assessment requirements of the Directive. and management of flood risks, by 2011 to identify the river basins and associated coastal areas at risk of flooding. For such zones they would then need 2007 to draw up flood risk maps by 2013 and establish flood risk management plans focused on prevention, protection and preparedness by 2015. The Directive applies to inland waters as well as all coastal waters across the EU.
EU Water Framework Directive - Prevents deterioration of aquatic ecosystems and associated wetland by setting out a timetable until 2027 to achieve The Strategy will need to consider Directive 2000/60/EC of the good ecological status or potential. The Water Framework Directive requires Member States to manage the effects on the requirements of the WFD and European Parliament and of the the ecological quality of water which result from changes to the physical characteristics of water bodies. It requires action ensure that it does not compromise Council establishing a framework in those cases where these “hydro-morphological” pressures are having an ecological impact which will interfere with our its objectives, and, where for the Community action in the ability to achieve Water Framework Directive objectives. The Strategy should promote sustainable management of the appropriate, contributes to achieving field of water policy, 2000 water environment by carefully considering current land use and future climate scenarios, to minimise the effects of its aims. flooding and drought events and to facilitate long term improvements in water quality, including the protection of groundwater near landfill sites and minimise agricultural runoff.
Convention on Biodiversity (since The Convention has three main objectives: The conservation of biological diversity. The sustainable use of the The Strategy should take account of 1993) components of biological diversity. The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic biodiversity and the SEA should resources consider biodiversity impacts within their objectives.
7.2.2 National Plans and Programmes
Plan, Policy and Main aims and objectives Implication for the Strategy Programme Flood and Water Management Act The Flood and Water Management Act places a duty on all flood risk management authorities to co-operate with each The key driver for the Local Flood 2011 other. The Act also provides lead local flood authorities and the Environment Agency with a power to request information Risk Management Strategy. required in connection with their flood risk management functions. It requires flood and coastal erosion risk management authorities (that did not previously have such a duty) to aim to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development
The Conservation of Habitats and The Regulations provide for the designation and protection of 'European sites', the protection of 'European protected The Strategy should avoid adverse Species Regulations 2010 species', and the adaptation of planning and other controls for the protection of European Sites. Under the Regulations, impacts on Special Areas of competent authorities i.e. any Minister, government department, public body, or person holding public office, have a Conservation, Special Protection general duty, in the exercise of any of their functions, to have regard to the EC Habitats Directive. Areas and Ramsar sites.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 The purpose of the Act is to create a new statutory right of access on foot to certain types of open land, to modernise the The Strategy should have regard to (As amended) public rights of way system, to strengthen nature conservation legislation, and to facilitate better management of Areas of the conservation of listed species Outstanding Natural Beauty. Government departments are required to have regard for biodiversity in carrying out its and habitat. functions, and to take positive steps to further the conservation of listed species and habitats. The protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, already established in the Wildlife and Countryside Act, is strengthened giving greater power to Natural England. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to further the conservation and enhancement of SSSIs both in carrying out their operations, and in exercising their decision making functions. The Act strengthens legal protection for threatened species and assists in bringing offenders to justice, and provides for stronger penalties.
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Plan, Policy and Main aims and objectives Implication for the Strategy Programme Flood Risk Regulations, 2009 The Flood Risk Regulations implement the requirements of the European Floods Directive, which aims to provide a Key driver for implementing Local consistent approach to managing flood risk across Europe. The approach consists of a six year cycle of planning based Flood Risk Management Strategy on a four stage process of Undertaking a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA). Identifying flood risk areas. The policy on development and flood Preparing flood hazard and risk maps. Preparing flood risk management plans. Lead Local Flood Authorities are risk is a key driver for implementing responsible for managing the flood risk caused by precipitation. The Environment Agency covers flooding from the sea, Local Flood Risk Management main rivers and reservoirs. Strategy.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. It sets out the Government’s requirements for the planning system only to the extent that it is relevant, proportionate and necessary to do so. The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012. This is a key part of Government reforms to make the planning system less complex and more accessible, to protect the environment and to promote sustainable growth.LPAs should avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding by directing development away from areas at high risk. Local Plans should apply a sequential risk based approach to the location of development to avoid where possible flood risk to people and property and manage any residual risk, taking account of the impact of climate change.
UK Biodiversity Action Plan The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) represents a national strategy for the conservation of biological diversity and The Strategy will need to consider the sustainable use of biological resources. It contains 391 Species Action Plans and 45 Habitat Action Plans. It is the relevant action plans within St. further supported by Local Biodiversity Action Plans developed by local authorities. It has the following aims: To Helens. conserve, promote and enhance species and habitats To develop public awareness and understanding
Countryside and Rights of Way The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provides for the statutory right of access to open country and registered The Strategy will have regard to the Act 2000 common land, modernise the rights of way system, give greater protection to SSSIs, provide better management protection of SSSI and maintaining arrangements for AONBs and strengthen wildlife enforcement legislation. the right to access the open countryside.
Natural Environment White Paper: The White Paper outlines the Government’s vision for the natural environment over the next 50 years, along with The Strategy should aim to be The natural choice: securing the practical action to deliver that ambition. The white paper recognises that the natural environment is sometimes taken for consistent with the Government value of nature (Defra June 2011) granted and undervalued, but that people cannot flourish without the benefits and services it provides. vision for the natural environment.
Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for This new biodiversity strategy for England builds on the Natural Environment White Paper and provides a comprehensive The Strategy should have regard to England’s wildlife and ecosystem picture of how the Government is implementing international and EU commitments. It sets out the strategic direction for the new biodiversity strategy and services biodiversity policy for the next decade on land (including rivers and lakes) and at sea. It builds on the successful work should assist with the aim to halt the that has gone before, but also seeks to deliver a real step change. decline in priority habitats and species.
Natural England’s Natural Area Framework for setting nature conservation objectives in a wider setting and helping to achieve the Biodiversity Action The SEA will consider how the Strategy Plan (BAP) targets. LFRMS can integrate and contribute to the creation and maintenance of biodiversity for habitats and conservation species.
Future Water, The Government’s Future Water sets out how it intends for the water sector to look by 2030. The vision of a sector that values and protects The Strategy should consider water Water Strategy for England, 2008 its water resources; that delivers water to customers through fair, affordable and cost-reflective charges; where flood risk as a valuable resource. is addressed with markedly greater understanding and use of good surface water management; and where the water industry has cut its greenhouse gas emissions. The vision shows a sector that is resilient to climate change, with its likelihood of more frequent droughts as well as floods, and to population growth, with forward planning full in tune with these adaptation challenges.
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Plan, Policy and Main aims and objectives Implication for the Strategy Programme The National Flood and Coastal This strategy aims to help risk management authorities and communities understand their different roles and Guidance document for the lead Erosion Risk Management responsibilities and will be particularly relevant to Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) which have new responsibilities local flood authority. Strategy for England (May 2011) under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). The strategy encourages more effective risk management to: Ensure a clear understanding of the risks of flooding and coastal erosion, nationally and locally, so that investment in risk management can be prioritised more effectively; Set out clear and consistent plans for risk management so that communities and businesses can make informed decisions about the management of the remaining risk; Manage flood and coastal erosion risks in an appropriate way, taking account of the needs of communities and the environment; Ensure that emergency plans and responses to flood incidents are effective and that communities are able to respond effectively to flood forecasts, warnings and advice; Help communities to recover more quickly and effectively after incidents.
Water for People and the This Strategy sets out how the Agency believe water resources should be managed over the coming decades so that The Strategy should have regard to Environment; Water Resources water can be abstracted and used sustainably. The objective to Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Reducing the the management of water resources Strategy for England and Wales, vulnerability of ecosystems to climate change (which makes reference to flood risk management) Increasing the within St. Helens so as not to have 2009 resilience of supplies, Protecting critical infrastructure (which States that water supply infrastructure needs to be resilient detrimental impact. to flooding)
Making Space for Water – Taking The Strategy aims to implement a more holistic approach to managing flood and coastal erosion risks in England. The This Strategy is a key driver for the forward a new Government aim will be to manage risks by employing an integrated portfolio of approaches which reflect both national and local Local Flood Risk Management strategy for flood and coastal priorities, so as to: Reduce the threat to people and their property; and Deliver the greatest environmental, social and Strategy. erosion risk management in economic benefit, consistent with the Government’s sustainable development principles. England, 2005
Directing the Flow: Priorities for Sets future water policy to implement the Water Framework directive. Highlights that considerably more emphasis needs Key driver for Local Flood Risk Future Water Policy, 2002 to be put on integrating the different aspects of water policy, including between water quality, water resources and flood Management Strategy. management, as well as greater integration of water policies with policies in other areas additional to health – especially with regard to: Agriculture and fisheries; Biodiversity, Tourism and recreation; Land-use planning
The Impact of Flooding on Urban This document has two stated aims namely: Understanding the relationships between urban/rural policies and flood risk The Strategy will need to take into and Rural Communities, 2005 management (FRM) policy such that opportunities for ‘win–win’ solutions could be explored; Understanding the social account the findings of the report. impacts (e.g. economic, health, community) on urban and rural communities from an empirical perspective (i.e. what evidence is there for differential impacts on urban and rural communities in terms of flooding)
Securing the Future: Delivering the This Strategy sets out the Government approach to sustainable development and new shared priorities agreed across The strategy needs to consider the Sustainable Development the UK. It sets out ways in which to adapt to climate change, one of which is to research the effects of climate change, approach set out in this Government Strategy, 2005 particularly flood and coastal management sectors. It also sets out that in line with national planning policy guidance, Strategy. there will be flood risk assessments for publicly funded developments and new flood defence schemes; and integrated water management studies. Water Act, 2003 Goals of this Act includes: Amending the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Water Industry Act 1991; Making provision The Strategy should take account of with respect to compensation under section 61 of the Water Resources Act 1991; Providing for the establishment and the duties and powers resulting from functions of the Water Services Regulation Authority and the Consumer Council for Water; Making provision in the Act. connection with land drainage and flood defence; Making provision about contaminated land so far as it relates to the pollution of controlled waters
EA Policy: Sustainable Urban The Environment Agency’s policy will be to promote SuDS as a technique to manage surface and groundwater regimes The Strategy needs to consider how Drainage System sustainably. The policy has two key objectives: Primary objective: to establish SuDS as the normal drainage practice SuDS can be incorporated within where appropriate for all new developments in England and Wales; Secondary objective: retrofitting SuDS on those management interventions where surface water drainage systems which have an adverse effect on the environment necessary and appropriate.
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Plan, Policy and Main aims and objectives Implication for the Strategy Programme Land Drainage Act,1991 (As Gives the operating authority (including the Environment Agency) authorisation to carry out works on watercourses for The Strategy should take account of amended 2004) certain purposes. It also places environmental and recreational duties on the Environment Agency the duties resulting from the Act.
The Historic Environment: a Force This statement sets out the intention of the Government to protect the historic environment, recognising its major The Strategy could influence the for Our Future (2001) contribution to the economy in rural and deprived communities, as well as in economic centres. historic environment in several ways, including impacts upon townscape, historic structures and features and buried archaeology.
Our Towns and Cities, the Future- Sustainable economic growth is based on thriving towns and cities, which are the economic hubs of large areas. To stop The Strategy should take into Delivering an Urban Renaissance. urban decline by taking a joined approach to policies on housing, planning, transport and education in and for cities and account the overarching aims of this White Paper. DETR (2000) towns. document and consider the targets this White paper refers to.
Localism Act 2011 The Act aims to move land use planning away from central Government decision-making by introducing new powers, The Strategy must have regard to control and influence at a local level. The main of the act include: Presumption in favour of sustainable development; the new requirements of the Abolition of RSS; statutory duty for local planning authorities and 'public bodies' to cooperate with each other; Localism Act. At the moment there Retention of the CIL; the introduction of neighbourhood development plans and neighbourhood development orders; etc are no Neighbourhood Plans within St. Helens that need to be taken into account for the Strategy.
7.2.3 Regional Plans and Programmes
Plan, Policy and Main aims and objectives Implication for the Strategy Programme North West River Basin Prepared under the Water Framework Directive, the RBMP emphasises on the pressures facing the water environment The Strategy will need to consider Management Plan in the North West River Basin District, and the actions that will address them. It is the first of a series of six-year cycles of the requirements of the RBMP and planning and action plan focussing on the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the water environment. ensure that it does not compromise its objectives, and, where appropriate, contributes to achieving its aims. North West of England Plan: The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for North West England provides a framework for development and investment in The Coalition Government has Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021 the region over the next 15 to 20 years. It establishes a broad vision for the region and its sub-regions, priorities for stated its intent to abolish RSS growth and regeneration, and policies to achieve sustainable development across a wide range of topics – from jobs, under the Localism Act. However, a housing and transport to climate change, waste and energy, within which local development plans can be prepared. recent challenge in court has meant a stay of execution for RSS. Very little weight will be placed on the policies within the NW RSS as part of the developing the Strategy.
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7.2.4 Local Plans and Programmes
Plan, Policy and Main aims and objectives Implication for the Strategy Programme Mersey Estuary Catchment Flood The Mersey Estuary Catchment Flood Management Plan was published in 2008 by the Environment Agency and sets The Strategy needs to consider Management Plan, December out policies for the sustainable management of flood risk across the whole of the Mersey Estuary over the long-term (50 these policies when developing local 2009 to 100 years) taking climate change into account. More detailed flood risk management strategies for individual rivers or policies and measures for the sections of river may sit under these. management of flood risk.
Mid Mersey Water Cycle Study, The Mid Mersey Water Cycle Study provides an overview of the water cycle and its constraints to development in the The Strategy will need to take 2011 former Mid Mersey Growth Point (St. Helens, Halton and Warrington). Amongst other things the study considers existing account of advice within the study levels of water quality and flood risk in the area and how these may change in response to climate change and and any identified flood risk legislation. The study provides strategic level advice on water infrastructure and environmental capacity to inform the associated with capacity of existing development of Local Development Framework and associated growth strategies. water infrastructure within St. Helens
The Mersey Forest Plan, The Mersey Forest Plan is the main strategic document which guides the work of The Mersey. Forest team and partners. The Strategy will need to consider Consultation Draft, 2013 The plan aims to deliver “More from Trees” – with partners, communities and landowners. transforming their landscape how implementation of the Mersey and revitalising a woodland culture in and around our towns and. cities. Relevant policies include Flood Alleviation and Forest Plan can assist with its aims Water Management as well as Climate Change. for managing flood risk within St. Helens.
St. Helens Strategic Flood Risk St. Helens SFRA shows that the primary source of flood risk within the Borough is from fluvial flooding. The Sankey The Strategy, in proposing Assessment (Level 1), 2009 Brook corridor, with many of its tributaries, is prone to flooding, which puts at risk a small number of commercial and measures and action to manage residential properties. flood risk, needs to take account of the wider risk of fluvial flooding.
St. Helens Preliminary Flood Risk The PFRA provides a strategic overview of the flood risk from local sources through a review of historic flooding incidents It will be a fundamental requirement Assessment, 2011 and the predicted future extents of flooding. The production of the PFRA is required by the Flood Risk Regulations and is for the Strategy to take account of the first step in the management of local flood risk. The PFRA will be primarily utilised in developing the St. Helens Local the results of St. Helens PFRA. Flood Risk Management Strategy.
St. Helens Local Plan Core The Core Strategy is the principal document in a framework of documents that will guide the Borough in its local The Core Strategy has been Strategy, 2012 development making decisions until 2027. It provides an overall strategy of where development should be located and adopted since October 2012. The how we meet the needs of the Borough. It also contains proposals for housing, economy and employment, community Strategy must ensure that the facilities, quality of life and accessibility are explained for an individual area and the Borough as a whole. Issues involving policies an d actions complement the future of the Green Belt, Parkside, redevelopment of the Town Centre and protecting green spaces are subject to the objectives and policies within the particular consideration in this document Core Strategy.
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7.3 Appendix C – Updated Baseline information
7.3.1 Introduction
7.3.1.1 The SEA Directive requires the consideration of likely significant effects on the environment, including on biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the interrelationship between these factors. The collection of baseline information is a legal requirement of the SEA Directive and is required to provide information on the characteristics of an area, including the current state of the environment, and identify trends that are likely to continue without the implementation of the Strategy.
7.3.1.2 The baseline information has been revised and updated in light of any new evidence obtained through development of the LFRMS and comments received from the statutory consultees. The information below set out the updated baseline information and any local trends that can be identified from a range of data sources in relation to each of the above topics. The ways in which the LFRMS could potentially affect that topic are set out at the end of each section. Note that some topics (such as population and human health and flora and fauna) have been grouped together as there is a significant amount of crossover between these topics in terms of the data sources and the key environmental issues.
7.3.2 Plan Area
7.3.2.1 The administrative boundary of St. Helens covers an area of approximately 135 square kilometres, half of which is rural and half urban. St. Helens has seen a rapid and intense rate of development through the industrial revolution and although a relatively modern town, it has a legacy of derelict land and land affected by contamination. The Borough has relatively poor health, high unemployment rates and low educational attainment compared to national levels.
7.3.2.2 St. Helens is located between the conurbations of Liverpool and Manchester. The Borough adjoins Knowsley to the west, West Lancashire to the north, Wigan to the east and Halton and Warrington to the south. The Borough is served by a range of major transport infrastructure. The M6 and M62 motorways run through the Borough and the West Coast Main Line which can be accessed at Wigan and Warrington. The Liverpool to Manchester (via Newton-le-Willows) and the two Liverpool to Wigan railway lines, serving a total of ten stations, also pass through the Borough.
7.3.3 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna
7.3.3.1 There are no European designated sites in St. Helens. However, there are eight European sites that are considered to have links via pathway with development within St. Helens boundary. In addition, St. Helens hosts a large designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Stanley Bank Meadow and another very small part of the Highfield Moss SSSI, which became part of the St. Helens area as a result of a boundary change. Stanley Bank Meadows SSSI is currently making a positive recovery and has moved from ‘unfavourable condition’ to ‘unfavourable condition/recovering’ which demonstrates the success and importance of biodiversity management within the Borough. There is a number of local wildlife sites designated for the presence of particular habitats or species.
7.3.3.2 There are also a number of ancient woodlands and tree preservation orders within the Borough. The Merseyside Local Sites Partnership has instituted a programme of monitoring the condition of Local Wildlife Sites. The aim is to assess 10% of sites annually. There are six Local Nature Reserves (LNR) in St. Helens. These are areas designated as having special local interesting wildlife or geological features.
7.3.3.3 St. Helens falls within the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan (NMBAP), which has 15 Habitat Action Plans (HAP) and 28 Species Action Plans (SAP). Thirteen of the 15 HAPs are relevant to St. Helens. All of these habitats have experienced decline and are subject to current pressure. It is generally considered that pressure from human use of land and climate change could lead to further decline in quality and potentially quantity, without continued acceleration in conservation effort. In 2001/02, the proportion of tree cover was approximately 5%. The long term target is to reach 10% by 2025. Tree cover is considered likely to continue increasing, although indications suggest that the target could be missed.
7.3.4 Water Resources and Flooding
7.3.4.1 St. Helens lies largely within the catchment of the River Mersey, with the remainder within the Alt catchment. There is a watershed within the Borough approximately at the line of the M62 motorway. Approximately 90% of the Borough is located north of this watershed, which drains to the River Mersey through Warrington via Sankey Brook. To the south of the M62, the Borough drains direct to the Mersey through the small tributaries of Whittle, Union Bank and Penketh Brook. Simonswood Brook in the north west of the Borough drains to the River Alt.
7.3.4.2 St. Helens is situated upstream of Warrington and Halton to the south. There are a large number of properties within the adjoining Boroughs that are susceptible to flooding from the River Mersey and Sankey Brook. It is important to recognise that future development within St. Helens must be carefully managed to ensure that the risk of flooding is not exacerbated. The main source of flood risk within the Borough is associated with fluvial flooding from Sankey Brook and its tributaries. The Sankey Brook is the primary watercourse flowing through St. Helens. The Environment Agency flood risk maps shows that the Sankey Brook corridor, and many of its tributaries, is prone to flooding and therefore puts commercial and a small proportion of residential development at risk of flooding.
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7.3.4.3 Figure 2 Environment Agency Flood Zone Map of St. Helens
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7.3.4.4 There are gaps due to insufficient information on flooding from ordinary watercourses within St. Helens. Flooding from ordinary watercourses have been identified using the Environment Agency’s Detailed River network (DRN). The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) concluded that there are no significant flooding incidents that contain harmful consequences. However, since the PFRA was published, locally significant flooding of a culvert at Warrington Road resulted in a number of properties being flooded.
7.3.4.5 During the flooding in September 2012 there were two recorded instances of groundwater flooding at Billinge and Eccleston. The Environment Agency produces map information from datasets for areas susceptible to groundwater flooding. The known possible groundwater flooding areas in the Newton le Willows area did not produce any recorded incidents in the September 2012 flooding. It is recognised that due to the closure of mining pits and the ceasing of dewatering activities, there is a potential for groundwater rise in areas within the Borough. Generally the risk of groundwater flooding is higher in the flat, low lying areas of the Borough, most of which corresponds to the fluvial floodplain.
7.3.4.6 Surface water flooding has the potential to contribute to significant levels of risk in localised and urban areas. United Utilities DG Register shows that flood risk incidents have been reported within areas of Haydock, Sutton Leach, Rainhill and Rainford Village. Also, flooding of 10 houses occurs in the Black Brook area and Rainford as a result of overtopping, blocked culverts and surface water system backing up. There is also a large area of housing behind the area that floods which contributes a significant proportion of run-off in the area. Similar problems also occur in Rainford (Lower Shades to Beech Gardens) where approximately 11 properties are at risk of flooding from backing up from the culvert.
7.3.4.7 Records show that artificial drainage system flooding occurs mainly in Eccleston, Blackbrook and Rainford. This source of flooding is closely linked to surface water flooding due to interacting hydraulic mechanisms. The St. Helens Canal (also known as Sankey Canal) runs through the Borough. Parts of the canal have been in-filled and require limited flood management. There are records of flood incidents from the St. Helens Canal upstream of West End Road, Blackbrook in 2000. In the September 2012 floods, 10 residential properties and 2 businesses were internally flooded at Blackbrook / West End Road. There are a number of dams and reservoirs throughout the Borough each of which account for residual flood risk. There is potential flood risk associated with potential breach of Carr Mill Dam. Eccleston Mere has required the controlled release of waters to reduce the levels, thus flooding Burrows Lane instead of neighbouring properties.
7.3.5 Historic Flood Events
7.3.5.1 Flow restrictions in the area around Windle Brook and Hardshaw Brook in the form of a 1.2m diameter main on Rivington Road and potential blockages to the culvert screen resulted in flooding of approximately 50 properties on Ruskin Drive / Coleridge Avenue, the former Rivington Centre and the former Rugby Football Ground. 15 residential properties fronting Gerards Lane, just upstream of Waterdale Reservoir, were subject to localised flooding in the past. Also, historical records show commercial properties in the vicinity of Lea Green Road were subject to localised road flooding.
7.3.5.2 In November 2000 the site of Ibstock Brickworks suffered flooding as a result of the blocking of an inlet to the culverted reach of Pendlebury Brook which runs through the site. The confluence of Mill Brook and Windle Brook is understood to have been affected by flood events in the 1980s prior to the construction of the existing housing estate and that flood defences were constructed as part of this development.
7.3.5.3 There is evidence of frequent and severe flooding in the area of the Black Brook crossing of West End Road, the most recent of which being September 2012 where 10 residential properties, a Visitor Centre, two business premises, and a highway were flooded. The construction of the Black Brook bypass in 2007 incorporated a sustainable drainage system (SUDS) designed to alleviate these problems. Whilst this has decreased the frequency of flooding, it clearly has not eradicated and, probably could not be expected to permanently prevent flooding. Surface water flooding on College Street and surface and foul water flooding on Peasley Cross Lane are considered by the Council to be the most significant surface and foul water issues affecting highways within the Borough.
7.3.6 Potential Future Flood Risk
7.3.6.1 According to the Mersey Estuary Catchment flood Management Plan, 2000 people, 1000 properties, 4km of transport network, 17 items identified as critical infrastructure and 3 community facilities within St. Helens would be at risk from the 1 in 100 year annual flood event. The Environment Agency has 7 active Food Warning Zones across St. Helens. There are flood risks identified from Ordinary watercourse acoss St. Helens. Flooding from Ordinary watercourse can occur without warning when main rivers back up particularly in the Bold area at times of flash storm event. Areas potentially affected include Warrington Road, Clock Face Road, Bell Lane, Sutton and Abbotsfield Road adjacent footpath rear of Lin Pac.
7.3.6.2 Using the Environment Agency dataset: Flood Map for Surface Water (FMfSW) 1 in 200 rainfall event to inform the PFRA, 17,400 and 4,700 properties are at risk from the 200 year 0.1m and 0.3m deep event. Out of this there are 14,800 and 3,800 residential properties at risk from the 200 year 0.1m and 0.3m deep event. However, it should be noted that the assessment is indicative and not precise to the study area and does not represent features such as culverts and narrow channels common to St. Helens.
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7.3.6.3 The flat areas in the Borough susceptible to groundwater flooding presents very little risks according to the Environment Agency map. However, there is a general risk of groundwater flooding in flat to groundwater rebound following cessation of dewatering of closed mines. Flooding from the Blackbrook branch of the Sankey Canal is a known risk where it is designated as a main river due to complex hydrological interactions as a result of the presence of high pressure gas pipes within the canal. The Carr Mill Dam has been identified as having the greatest risk to the Borough if there is a failure. However, as noted before there are measures put in place by the Canal and River Trust to reduce the risk to lives and property.
7.3.6.4 A study to locate culverts and to undertake flood model analysis on all culverts on Ordinary watercourses to map inundation scenarios has been undertaken by JBA Consulting (2012). The results from modelling the 100 year return period for the 414 assets identified within the Borough shows that there is a potential flood risk to approximately 7077 properties (5,320 residential and 1,757 non residential).
7.3.7 Water Framework Directive
7.3.7.1 In the North West River Basin District 30 per cent of surface waters meet good ecological status or better; 70 per cent do not meet good status (512 water bodies). 22 per cent of groundwater bodies are at good overall status with the rest being poor status.
7.3.7.2 Table 11 Key Statistics for Mersey Catchment
River and Lake Waterbodies Now 2015 % at good ecological status or potential 0 0 % assessed at good or high biological status (25 waterbodies assessed) 0 4 % assessed at good chemical status (6 waterbodies assessed) 100 100 % at good status overall (chemical and ecological) 0 0 % improving for one or more element in rivers 48
7.3.7.3 The catchment drains an area of 4680 km2 and consists of Liverpool and several other major key towns and cities. Many of the rivers in the catchment have been modified through channelisation, culverting and flood protection schemes. These modifications may be barriers to fish migration and impact on the overall condition of the watercourse. The catchment has a rich industrial past and is home to much of the North West region’s heavy industry and major ports and has one of the most thriving economies in the region. In implementing the River Basin Management Plan, the Environment Agency will work with partners to improve our waterbodies through;
‹‹‹ Undertaking research or targeting local investigation to find the origin, cause and solutions to pollution; ‹‹‹ Investigating contaminated land issues and possible remediation; ‹‹‹ United Utilities improving their assets at Widnes and Warrington Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW); ‹‹‹ Implementing practical measures to tackle oil pollution in ports, harbours and docks and apply pollution prevention campaigns to improve water quality and reduce sedimentation; ‹‹‹ Supporting and funding River Mersey Fry Refuge Project for creating suitable juvenile habitats in downstream reaches of modified rivers within the catchment.
7.3.7.4 These improvements are expected to lead to 4% of rivers and lakes improving to good biological status. Overall, 135km of rivers in the catchment will improve by at least one element by 2015. The number of rivers at bad or poor status will be reduced from 12 to 10.
7.3.7.5 Table 12 Key Statistics for Catchment
River and Lake Waterbodies Now 2015 % at good ecological status or potential 0 0 % assessed at good or high biological status (11 waterbodies assessed) 18 18 % assessed at good chemical status (3 water bodies assessed) 0 0 % at good status overall (chemical and ecological) 0 0 % improving for one or more element in rivers 14
7.3.7.6 Much of the Alt and Crossens catchment contains rivers designated as artificial or heavily modified. Table 5 shows that the waterbodies within the Alt and Crossens catchment fail to achieve good ecological status mainly due to failing to achieve a good chemical status. However, the improvement schemes planned as part of the River Basin Management Plan which includes building on our work with partners to investigate and deliver solutions, should lead to environmental improvements in the water environment.
7.3.7.7 Surface water quality in St. Helens has recently experienced significant decline in the chemical quality of rivers and canals, and slight decline in biological quality. Specifically, the proportion of rivers and canals of ‘bad’ chemical quality has increased from 0% in 1999 to 6% in 2004, while the proportion of ‘good’ and ‘fair’ quality has declined from 90% in 1999 to 88% in 2004. The proportion of rivers of ‘good’ chemical quality (38% in 2004) is far below the North West (64% in 2005) and England (64%) averages.
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7.3.7.8 In 2005, 73.2% of chemical water quality and 36.5% of biological water quality was of a ‘good’ or ‘fair’ standard within the Borough. This was significantly lower than that achieved in 2004 (87.5% and 50.1%). With regards to biological water quality, the Borough has a lower proportion of ‘good’ or ‘fair’ river water than the sub-region and region (47.6% and 89.3% respectively). The Environment Agency attributed the unexpected decline in the proportion of good or fair chemical water quality to the deterioration in the quality of Black Brook, downstream at Carr Mill Dam. This deterioration was suspected to be due to problems during commissioning of improvements to a storm sewer overflow. The improvements have now been completed and it is expected that the deterioration will be reversed in future years. The apparent decline in the proportion of biological water quality deemed ‘fair’ between 2004 and 2005 is due to a reduction in the actual total length classified in 2005. Two lengths of Rainford Brook, which were assessed as ‘fair’ in 2004 were not assessed in 2005.
7.3.8 Population and Human Health
7.3.8.1 The total population of St. Helens during the 2010/11 reporting period was 177,100 following years of decline. Trends show that the population has now relatively stabilised and it is projected to increase by 3% by 2027 to 182,500. St. Helens has an aging population with 22% of the residents aged 60 years and over, which is higher than the North West, England and Wales average. Consequently the Borough suffers from a declining youth population with 17.6 percent of its residents 14 years and younger. Although this is exactly comparable to the North West and England and Wales average, it has declined from 19.4% from the 2001 Census.
7.3.8.2 Life expectancy remains stable with females having a higher life expectancy at 80 years than males at 75.4 years in 2005-2007. These are both under the UK national average in 2005 – 2007 of 81.5% for females and 77.2 for males. Multiple deprivation levels in St. Helens are amongst the highest in the country. St. Helens is ranked 47 th most deprived authority out of 354 authorities in England. Although St. Helens has improved its relative position from 36 th worst in 2004 there remain a number of challenges. Particular areas of concern is a cluster of Super Output Areas (SOA) in the Town Centre, Parr, Thatto Heath and Bold wards which fall within the 5% most deprived nationally. Other pockets of high deprivation can be found in the Windle and Newton wards.
7.3.8.3 St. Helens has a legacy of poor health which is linked to deprivation and its industrial past. Cancer, heart, circulatory and respiratory diseases are the major cause of death. The Borough’s mortality rate remains higher than the national average. Health inequalities remains a concern and new challenges are emerging with people becoming heavier, less fit and much more likely to develop life threatening ill health and poorer quality of life. The local employment rate has improved 1.5% since 2000 with over 69.25 of the working age residents now in employment. However, there is still a 5.2% gap between the local and national employment rate (74.4) which would require 5,668 residents to be in work to redress this.
7.3.9 Climatic Factors
7.3.9.1 In the future flooding will be influenced by climate change. Whilst we do not know exactly what will happen in the future, climate change projections produced by DEFRA shows that climate change is likely to result in more frequent and intense storms causing more widespread flooding from drainage systems and some rivers; and Wetter winters increasing the likelihood of large-scale flooding. One of the main causes of climate change is the rapid recent increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. In 2006 the highest amount of CO2 originating in St. Helens was from industry and commercial sector (870 kt of CO2). This figure was the second highest when compared against the neighbouring Authorities of Wigan, Warrington, Halton, Knowsley and West Lancashire (Halton has the highest). St. Helens also has the third highest levels of domestic and road transport CO2 emissions.
7.3.9.2 Per capita CO2 emissions are calculated by dividing total emissions from all sectors by the population of the area concerned. The per capita emissions in St. Helens are slightly higher than the North West average (for 2006) and have increased between 2005 and 2006. In comparison to surrounding authorities, St. Helens is fourth out sixth with the Halton Borough having the highest per capita emissions. CO2 emission by sector in St. Helens shows that the majority of CO2 emissions originate from business followed by 26% from home and 22% from transport.
7.3.9.3 Climate change projections for the United Kingdom published as part of the UKCP09 programme 1 provide detailed probabilistic projections of climate change based on quantification of the known sources of uncertainty. Projections are available for the North West region for a number of variables in relation to climate change projections including change in mean air temperature, precipitation rates and relative humidity based on three emissions scenarios (low, medium and high). The emissions scenarios represent the future development of greenhouse gas emissions and are based on a coherent and internally consistent set of assumptions about driving forces (such as demographic and socio-economic development and technological change) and their key relationships.
7.3.9.4 Projections show that the change in annual temperature for the North West region for the time period 2010-2039 for both medium and high emissions scenario will be approximately 2.0 degrees celsius increasing to 4.5 and 5.5 for the medium and high emission scenario up to 2099. Projections show that the average winter precipitation rate for the North West region for the period 2010-2039 for the medium and high emissions scenario will increase by approximately 14% and 11% respectively, increasing to 35% and 45% up to 2099. Predictions for summer precipitation show a steady decline of approximately 30% and 35% for the medium and high emissions scenario respectively up to 2099.
1 http://ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk/content/view/868/531/
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7.3.10 Air Quality
7.3.10.1 Under the Environment Act 1995, local authorities have statutory duties for local air quality management (LAQM). The Act requires the UK Government and devolved administrations for Scotland and Wales to produce a National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) containing standards, objectives, and measures for improving ambient air quality and to keep these policies under review. Since December 1997 each local authority in the UK has been carrying out a review and assessment of air quality in their area. This involves measuring air pollution and trying to predict how it will change in the next few years.
7.3.10.2 At present, St. Helens meets all the objectives set, with the exception of the annual mean for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) of 40 micrograms per metre cubed. Consequently in April 2009, St. Helens named its first two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) which include the stretch of the M6 that runs through the Borough and the High Street, Newton-le- Willows. There are now two further AQMAs. The results of the air quality monitoring programme in St. Helens show that, in general, the concentrations of all pollutants being monitored are below objectives set out in the NAQS and below values at which adverse health effects are likely to occur with the exception of nitrogen dioxide. In the coming year an Action Plan to tackle air quality issues and to reduce pollution levels is set to be adopted; the implementation of this Plan could lead to an improvement in local air quality.
7.3.11 Soil, Landscape and Geology
7.3.11.1 The soils within St. Helens can be divided into two main types:
‹‹‹ Gley podzols : these are defined by a sandy soil horizon over loamy or clayey soils in stratified deposits with dark brown or black subsurface pan affected by fluctuating groundwater or impeded drainage. ‹‹‹ Stagnogley soils : these are brown earth soils, characterised as non-calcareous loamy, clayey and loamy over clayey soils. This soil is found in shale, clay and associated drift, in which drainage is impeded at moderate depths by a relatively impermeable subsurface layer; mainly associated with better drained loamy soils.
7.3.11.2 The soils that cover St. Helens are typically podzolic soils comprising well drained to poorly drained soils with black, dark brown or ocherous sub-surface horizons, which impart a pronounced character to the cultivated agricultural landscape. According to the Agricultural Land Classification in St. Helens large areas of grade 1 and 2 agricultural land are located towards the north west of the Borough. There are also large areas of grade 3 agricultural land towards the north, east and west of the Borough and the town centre is made up predominantly of grade 5 agricultural land.
7.3.11.3 The majority of rural land within St. Helens is within the Green Belt where new development is restricted. The landform of the Borough, with the exception of Billinge Hill is of a predominantly flat landscape, which gently tips down towards the Mersey Valley to the south. Billinge Hill (towards the north) is a pronounced ridgeline rising relatively sharply, particularly on the western slope, to a height of 179m at the summit. The landscape towards the south and east of the Borough is broad and mostly horizontal, with the expansive Mersey Valley to the south.
7.3.11.4 A number of key features in relation to the landscape character type in St. Helens are identified below:
‹‹‹ A significant area of Floodplain Farmland in the south; ‹‹‹ Large areas of Agricultural Moss and Urban Industrial Valley in the north/north west; ‹‹‹ Two large areas designated as separate settlements in the north east; and ‹‹‹ St. Helens town centre is primarily designated as an Urban Industrial Valley.
7.3.11.5 A landscape strategy for St. Helens is set out within St. Helens Landscape Character Assessment (2006) which identifies the areas where the landscape character should be conserved, restored, enhanced, strengthened and created. The areas identified for conservation, restoration and enhancement of character are located to the north, east and west of the Borough, and relate to landscape which have a simple strong landform, are relatively undeveloped and have a distinctive landscape vegetative pattern, which is vulnerable to change. St. Helens has a legacy of land contamination arising from industrial development and other related operational practices. The most significant influences in terms of the legacy of potential contamination in St. Helens are:
‹‹‹ Coal mining; ‹‹‹ Glass manufacture; ‹‹‹ Alkali manufacture; ‹‹‹ Copper smelting; ‹‹‹ Iron works; ‹‹‹ Landfill; and ‹‹‹ Railway and ancillary land.
7.3.11.6 The National Land Use Database (NLUD) Annual Survey for St. Helens (April 2010-March 2011) provides an indication of contaminated land within the Borough. The 2011 NLUD survey shows 2.5% of the area of land in St. Helens is Brownfield with just over a quarter of this previously developed land concentrated in the town centre (The stock of previously developed land at March 2011 is 271 ha, of which 156 ha is derelict). The highest amount of previously developed land is located in the town centre followed by Parr ward. The lowest amount is within the Rainford and Rainhill wards with only three recorded sites.
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7.3.11.7 There are known to be specific problems relating to pollution of watercourses in some areas of public open space which need to be addressed, in particular Sankey Brook in the Parr area, adjoining the Sankey Valley Industrial Estate, and also Newton Lake, Newton-le-Willows. The solid geology of St. Helens is composed largely of two broad areas. The northern area of the Borough is typified by a broad brand of Carboniferous Rock, known as the Coal Measures, laid down in the Palaeozoic Period between 318 and 303 million years ago. Permian and Triassic undifferentiated New Red Sandstone underlie the landscape to the south. These two bands are separated by irregular fault lines, which resulted from earth movements towards the end of the Carboniferous period.
7.3.11.8 Locally Geological Sites (LGS) (formerly known as Regionally Important Geological Sites – or RIGS) are non-statutory sites that have been identified by local conservation groups as being of importance. The 11 LGS in St. Helens are:
‹‹‹ Windlehurst Quarry, Denton’s Green; ‹‹‹ Crank Caverns, Crank; ‹‹‹ Wargrave Quarry (Red Brow Wood); ‹‹‹ Carr Mill Dam; ‹‹‹ Billinge Plantations; ‹‹‹ Billinge Quarry; ‹‹‹ Shaley Brow Quarry, Billinge; ‹‹‹ Brook 150m ENE of Houghwood Golf Course, Billinge; ‹‹‹ Brook 130m NE of Houghwood Golf Course; ‹‹‹ Clinkham Wood North, Moss Bank; and ‹‹‹ Taylor Park, Eccleston.
7.3.12 Material Assets
7.3.12.1 For the purposes of the assessment material assets will include buildings, infrastructure (physical and social) and resources that could potentially be affected by flooding. Therefore, it is important to recognise these assets to understand the impact of the Strategy within St. Helens. The total number of dwellings within St. Helens during the 2008/09 reporting period was 78,820.
7.3.13 Education
7.3.13.1 St. Helens has 59 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, together with further education facilities provided at 12 locations throughout the Borough.
7.3.14 Health
7.3.14.1 St. Helens has hospital facilities at St. Helens, Newton-le-Willows and the NHS Walk-in Centre in the Town Centre, together with access to Whiston Hospital on the south west boundary beyond Rainhill and 14 health centres provided across the Borough.
7.3.15 Community facilities
7.3.15.1 St. Helens has 13 community libraries distributed across the Borough and 25 Community Centres supporting programmes and services for groups and individuals. Post offices are located in most local areas in the Borough.
7.3.16 Green Infrastructure
7.3.16.1 St. Helens has over 720 hectares of Public Parks and Countryside Areas which includes Victorian Parks, Playing Fields, Woodlands, Greenways, Water Bodies, Local Nature Reserves, two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), 11 Local Geological Sites, Allotments and incidental open space. There are 18 formal parks, together with Greenways such as Sankey Valley Park, Ravenhead, Sutton Brook and Newton, which form corridors through the built-up areas, suitable for walking, cycling and wildlife. St. Helens Council provide 3 Leisure Centres and golfing facilities, supplemented by many private clubs and facilities.
7.3.17 Transport
7.3.17.1 Both the M6 and M62 motorways can be accessed from within the Borough. These are supported by the Primary Route Network, which consists of the A570, A580, and A58, which are maintained by St. Helens Council. The West Coast Mainline runs through the Borough, together with the Liverpool to Manchester, Liverpool to Wigan and Kirkby to Wigan lines. The Borough is served by 10 stations. There are 400km of cycle routes within the Borough.
7.3.18 Renewable Energy
7.3.18.1 There are currently no commercial grid connected renewable energy schemes operational within the Borough. Hope Academy and Cowley Language College High Schools have been redeveloped with biomass boilers and two further schemes for secondary schools at De La Salle and Rainford High received planning permission during 2010/2011. These schemes also include biomass boilers which will provide 80% and 65% of heating needs respectively. There has also been some preliminary interest in wind turbines, energy from waste schemes and solar farms elsewhere in the Borough.
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7.3.19 Waste
7.3.19.1 St. Helens has one operational non-inert landfill site within the Borough, at Lyme and Wood Pits, between Haydock and Newton-le-Willows.
7.3.20 Telecommunication
7.3.20.1 The Borough is served by five telephone exchanges, providing 100% coverage of the Borough with ADSL broadband connection. Only the St. Helens exchange currently provides SDSL connection, providing 20% of the Borough, including the Town Centre with high data/bandwidth facilities.
7.3.21 Heritage
7.3.21.1 Table 6 quantifies the cultural facilities located within St. Helens in comparison to the North West. It demonstrates that St. Helens has a higher amount of cultural amenities per square kilometre than the North West average, but a smaller amount of listed buildings and conservation areas per square kilometre. St. Helens also has a higher proportion of buildings at risk than the North West average.
7.3.21.2 Table 13 St. Helens Cultural Facilities
St. Helens North West Cultural Amenities per sq km 318 176 Listed Building per sq km 2 22 Heritage Site per sq Km 2 10 Building at risk per sq km 22 10 Conservation Areas 10 37
7.3.21.3 In total, there are 147 listed buildings within St. Helens. There are three buildings in St. Helens that are currently on the ‘buildings at risk’ register held by English Heritage. All three buildings are Grade II listed and are in either very bad or poor condition. These buildings include:
‹‹‹ Cannington Shaw Bottle Shop, Site of Sherdley Works – building in a very bad condition and has been derelict since closure of the works in the late 1980s. It is now badly overgrown with structural deterioration (Source: English Heritage – Buildings at Risk Register, 2009). ‹‹‹ Rainhill Hall Farmhouse, Blundell’s Lane, Rainhill – building in a very bad condition. Parts of the upper floor are unsafe and the sandstone roof is putting undue strain on the main beams (Source: English Heritage – Buildings at Risk Register, 2009). ‹‹‹ Ruins of Chapel of St Thomas Cantebury, Windlehurst Roman Catholic Cemetery – building in a poor condition. Both the chapel and surrounding graveyard are in ruinous condition (Source: English Heritage – Buildings at Risk Register, 2009).
7.3.21.4 There are 4 listed Places of Worship in St. Helens all of which are in poor condition. There are 11 monuments within St. Helens that are protected under the Scheduled Ancient Monument status. There are 10 Conservation Areas within the St. Helens Borough. The 10 Conservation Areas are listed below:
‹‹‹ Victoria Square, St. Helens Town Centre; ‹‹‹ George Street, St. Helens Town Centre; ‹‹‹ High Street, Newton-le-Willows; ‹‹‹ Willow Park, Newton-le-Willows; ‹‹‹ Vulcan Village, Newton-le-Willows; ‹‹‹ Rainhill Area I, St. Helens; ‹‹‹ Rainhill Area II, St. Helens; ‹‹‹ Rainhill Area III, St. Helens; ‹‹‹ Rainford Area I, St. Helens; and ‹‹‹ Rainford Area II, St. Helens.
7.3.21.5 Of the above, only Vulcan village and Victoria Square are not on the Heritage at Risk register. There are also 2 listed Parks and Gardens:
‹‹‹ Taylor Park; and ‹‹‹ St. Helens Cemetery and Crematorium
7.3.22 Limitations
7.3.22.1 At the time of preparing the LFRMS and SEA the available baseline data for the historic environment was limited to national datasets. This was due to the temporary closure of the Merseyside Historic Environment Record (HER) service and a temporary lack of Conservation expertise within St Helens Council. Both issues are expected to be resolved during 2014, though there are likely to be limitations in HER data for an interim period while a data digitisation and enhancement programme is implemented. However, for the purposes of this SEA it has not been possible to include detail of non-designated heritage assets within the baseline. This is a limitation that will be addressed for any future iteration of the Strategy
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7.4 Appendix D – SEA Objectives Compatibility Test
7.4.1 Table 14 Compatibility Matrix for SEA objectives
+ Where the objectives are compatible ? Where it is uncertain the objectives are related 0 Where there is likely to be no relation - Where the objectives are incompatible
1 2 + 3 ? ? 4 ? ? + 5 + + + + 6 ? ? + ? + 7 ? ? 0 0 + + 8 + + ? ? + ? 0 9 + ? ? ? 0 ? 0 + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
‹‹‹ Objective 1 with 3, 4, 6 and 7 - There is the potential that any development / measure required to ensure that the impact of flooding on existing and future development is minimised could result in adverse impact to water quality, existing biodiversity, soil resources, geodiversity and heritage depending on the nature of the measures proposed. For example, flood alleviation works could result in the mobilisation of land contamination into the water column or the construction of flood defences could adversely affect the setting of important heritage sites; ‹‹‹ Objective 2 with 3, 4, 6 and 7 – Given the scope of the Strategy, many measures to adapt development to climate change will involve minimising flood risk and therefore could have similar impacts as Objective 1; ‹‹‹ Objective 3 with 8 and 9 – Minimising flood risk to existing infrastructure, businesses and important heritage sites could potentially affect water quality depending on the nature of the measures being adopted; ‹‹‹ Objective 4 with 8 and 9 - Minimising flood risk to existing infrastructure, businesses and important heritage site could result in adverse impact to biodiversity, flora and fauna depending on the nature of the measures which are adopted; ‹‹‹ Objective 6 with 8 and 9 - Minimising flood risk to existing infrastructure, businesses and important heritage site could result in adverse impact to soil resources depending on the nature of the measures which are adopted.
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7.5 Appendix E – SEA Matrices for the St.Helens LFRMS
LFRMS Objective 1: Risk Management Authorities and Responsibilities To clearly set out the different types of flooding, who is responsible and Governance arrangement
Measures associated with this LFRMS objective: Identify current Legislation which places a responsibility on risk management authorities for flood risk management; Publish information explaining responsibilities and different types of flooding; and Governance arrangement, sharing local knowledge and technical expertise within St. Helens Council and other partner organisations to ensure effective and consistent management of local flood risk.
SEA Objectives Score Justification 1. To minimise the risk of ?+ The LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to manage flooding in the community. However, measure flooding 1.10 -1.11 involves sharing local knowledge and advice within St. Helens Council and partner organisations, advice which will become available to landowners, local businesses and residents in order that they can actively employ measures on their land and within properties to manage flood risk such as flood resilience, signing up for emergency flood warning. The three measures are likely to have a direct positive long term effect through improving community awareness and understanding of their responsibilities in relation to taking effective measures to manage flood risk. However, there is a degree of uncertainty as how advice / information will be disseminated to the community by the LLFA and whether, and to what degree, the flood risk management measure will be implemented across the Borough.
2. Reducing the contribution ?+ The LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to reduce the LLFA contribution to climate change. to climate change and Objective 1 will require LLFA to take account of relevant legislation. Of particular relevance is the Climate Change Act which sets national targets for the enabling adaptation to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, these targets are not binding locally and therefore place no duty or requirement on the LLFA to achieve climate change which is them and therefore this provide little certainty as to whether legislation will be an effective driver at this level. Measure 1.10 – 1.11 involves sharing local already locked in. knowledge and advice within different section of St. Helens Council and partner organisations, and therefore there is an opportunity for the LLFA to provide information on the impact and consequences of climate change and advise individuals, businesses and the community to operate in such a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to implement appropriate measures to combat future climate change effects. Whilst the LLFA can provide advice on flood resilience measures and effective land management option to enable adaption to climate change to reduce the impact of increase, the delivery and implementation of these measures will be dependent on issues such as cost / funding, support from land owners, use of SUDS, etc. The direct effect of the LFRMS objective is unknown. However, there is opportunity for positive effects.
3. To protect and maintain ?+ None of the measures associated with LFRMS Objective 1 will result directly in physical work that could have an adverse effect on the ecological condition of the ecological condition of water resources. The Objective will enhance the knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of St. Helens Council, partner organisation and local water resources community in respect of flood risk management. Objective 1 could potentially have a positive effect on water quality by providing advice the individuals, businesses and community on measures to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion, which in turn should potentially reduce the likelihood of adverse impact on the ecological condition of water resources from flooding (For example, reducing soil erosion or contaminated run-off from urban areas entering controlled water). Advice should cover appropriate land management measures to reduce run-off, the benefits of SUDS to quality of run-off, effective drainage design to cater for extreme flooding. The direct impact of the LFRMS objective is unknown. However, there is opportunity for positive effects.
4. Protecting and enhancing ?+ By sharing knowledge and technical expertise within St. Helens Council, partner organisation and the local community to improve people’s understanding biodiversity, including and responsibility in relation to managing flood risk and to reduce the overall risk of flooding across the Borough, the measures associated with LFRMS both habitats and species, Objective1 is expected to have an indirect positive effect on the protection of habitats and species from the adverse effects of flooding including the effects of and maintaining and pollution caused by flooding. None of the measures associated with LFRMS Objective 1 will result directly in physical work that could have an adverse effect enhancing nationally, on the designated and non-designated habitats and species. However, dependent on the nature of the advice provided by the Council to partner regionally and locally organisations and the community, there could potentially be positive impacts to biodiversity. Measure 1.5 involves the LLFA identifying a list of relevant designated wildlife sites legislation and guidance contributing to flood risk management. In particular additional legislation like the Wildlife and Countryside Act, Biodiversity Action and priority habitats. Plan and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations which affords protection to a number of habitats and species. It is expected that by highlighting and explaining these legislations to individuals and businesses should improve people’s understanding of the importance of biodiversity within the Borough. The direct impact of the LFRMS objective is unknown. However, there is opportunity for positive effects.
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SEA Objectives Score Justification 5. Maintaining and ?+ The LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work that would directly affect human health and well being. enhancing human health, However objective 1 is expected to have an indirect positive effect on human health and well being by virtue of people and the community becoming aware of including enhanced health the different types of flooding and responsible authorities being made aware of their responsibility to manage the risks including risks to human health. from access to green Amongst other functions green spaces can be used as flood storage areas during times of extreme flooding and therefore provide benefits both in respect of spaces and improved flooding as well as providing areas that can be used by communities for recreation, leisure etc. The direct impact of the LFRMS objective is unknown. equitable access to a However, there is opportunity for positive effects. However, there is uncertainty whether more areas of greenspace will be provided through the healthier, happier and implementation of the strategy. more sustainable lifestyle
6. To protect best quality soil ? By sharing knowledge and technical expertise within St. Helens Council, partner organisation and the local community to improve people’s understanding of and enhance the quality their responsibility in relation to managing flood risk and to reduce the overall risk of flooding across the Borough, the measures associated with this LFRMS and character of the objective is expected to have an indirect positive effect on the protection of landscape and soils by reducing the likelihood of their being adversely affected by landscape. flooding events (e.g. soil erosion caused by rapid surface water run-off). None of the measures will result directly in physical works being undertaken by the Council that could affect the character of St. Helens landscape and soil quality. However, measure 1.5 involves the Council sharing information with landowners and partner organisation on effective flood management, for example the type of measures that they could employ on their land to manage local flood risk. Depending on the nature of those measures and if and how they are delivered, there could potentially be impacts on the land and soil quality; therefore the direct effect associated with this objective is currently uncertain.
7. Conserving and ?+ By sharing knowledge and technical expertise within St. Helens Council, partner organisation and the local community to improve people’s understanding of enhancing geodiversity their responsibility in relation to managing flood risk and to reduce the overall risk of flooding across the borough, the measures associated with this LFRMS objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection geological features by reducing the likelihood of their being adversely affected by flooding events. For example soil erosion caused by rapid surface water run-off. None of the measures will result directly in physical works being undertaken by the Council that could affect geological features. However, measure 1.5 involves the Council sharing to landowners and partner organisation with regards to effective flood management, for example the type of measures that they could employ on their land to manage local flood risk. Depending on the nature and scale of those measures, there could potentially be impacts on the local geological features; therefore the likely positive effect associated with this objective is currently uncertain.
8. To minimise adverse ?+ The LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to manage flooding to infrastructure, property and impacts of local flood risk businesses and therefore the risk of flooding to community assets and infrastructure will remain. However, measure 1.5 involves sharing local knowledge and on existing and future key advice within different section of St. Helens Council and partner organisations, advice which should become available to landowners, local businesses and infrastructure, properties residents so that they could employ measures on their land and within properties to manage flood risk. The three measures are likely to have an overall and businesses positive effect as local people’s awareness and understanding of their responsibilities in relation to managing flood risk improves. There is a degree of uncertainty as to whether advice provided by the LLFA will be implemented across the borough. It is important that the LLFA encourage individuals, businesses and land owners to take responsibility for managing the risk of flooding to their property and assets.
9. To minimise the impact of ?+ By sharing knowledge and technical expertise within St. Helens Council, partner organisation and the local community to improve people’s understanding of flooding on the character their responsibility in relation to managing flood risk and to reduce the overall risk of flooding across the Borough, the measures associated with this LFRMS and physical attributes of objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of St. Helens historic environment and heritage assets (designated and non-designated) by St. Helens historic reducing the likelihood of their being adversely affected by flooding events. None of the measures will result directly in physical works being undertaken by environment and heritage the Council that could affect the character of St. Helens landscape and soil quality. However, measure 1.5 involves the Council sharing to landowners and assets of historic, partner organisation with regards to effective flood management, for example the type of measures that they could employ on their land to manage local archaeological and flood risk. Depending on the nature of those measures, there could potentially be impacts on the these sites and assets; therefore the direct effect associated architectural interest and with this objective is currently uncertain. their settings
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LFRMS Objective 2: Assessment of Flood Risk To assess the total risk of flooding from all sources in St. Helens
Measures associated with this LFRMS objective 2.1 Publish information on the physical and demographic characteristics of the area; 2.2 Publish and distribute available flooding data to improve partner, community and stakeholder knowledge; and 2.3 Improve our understanding of the impact of climate change
SEA Objectives Score Justification 1. To minimise the risk of The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources to enable flooding partner organisation, stakeholders and communities with St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the borough. Whilst the LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to minimise flood risk, it is + expected that the measures in combination should have a positive effect through increased level of awareness and better understanding of flood and coastal erosion risk. For example, under measure 2.2, the LLFA will publish information on past incidents and potential future flood risk. The data will be developed, monitored and refined to improved and localise community advice and response.
2. Reducing the The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources to enable contribution to climate partner organisation, stakeholders and communities with St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary change and enabling across the borough. Whilst the LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to reduce St. Helens adaptation to climate contribution to climate change, measure 2.7 will provide stakeholders, community and the LLFA with better understanding of their future vulnerability to change which is already flooding. locked in. +0 The objective is expected to have a positive indirect effect for e.g. using the information to design and incorporate resilience measures, flood warning / evacuation etc for new and existing development. LLFA, working jointly with the community will develop plans for increased resilience and building the capacity to adapt to climate change. The LLFA will continue to develop a sound evidence base of local flood risk and an understanding of what sections of the community are most exposed to these risks. Also, by improving the understanding of climate change of individuals, businesses and the community, there is an increased likelihood of a behavioural and lifestyle change in St. Helens in relation to our individuals and businesses operate and their contribution to climate change in the long term.
3. To protect and maintain The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources to enable the ecological condition partner organisation, stakeholders and communities with St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary of water resources across the borough. Whilst the LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect and maintain the ecological condition of water resources, the LFRMS objective is expected to have an indirect positive effect on water quality by reducing the risk of flooding +0 events having a negative effect on water resources (e.g. reducing soil erosion or contaminated run-off from urban areas entering controlled water) and through better understanding of the nature of flooding within the Borough. However, much of the river catchment contains rivers designated as artificial or heavily modified and are failing to achieve good ecological status / potential and therefore whilst the measures associated with the objective will not lead to deterioration in ecological status / potential it is unlikely to improve on the current situation.
4. Protecting and The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources to enable enhancing biodiversity, partner organisation, stakeholders and communities with St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary including both habitats across the borough. Whilst the LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect and enhance and species, and biodiversity and nature conservation sites, the measures associated with the LFRMS objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of maintaining and habitats and species from the adverse effect of flooding, particularly in respect of reducing the risk of negative effects of pollution caused by flooding that +0 enhancing nationally, could adversely affect aquatic habitats. Measure 2.3 will allow information on the physical features within the Borough to be made available which could regionally and locally include information of priority habitats and species (e.g. water voles) which may become vulnerable in the event of flooding. designated wildlife sites and priority habitats.
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SEA Objectives Score Justification 5. Maintaining and The LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to maintain or enhance human health and well being and enhancing human access to green spaces. However, measure 2.5 should have an indirect positive effect on human health and well being by virtue of people and the health, including community becoming aware of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources and therefore being able to make informed decision to reduce enhanced health from risks to human health and well being. However, the LFRMS Objective is considered unlikely to have an effect on access arrangement to green spaces within access to green spaces the Borough. +0 and improved equitable access to a healthier, happier and more sustainable lifestyle
6. To protect best quality The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources, to enable soil and enhance the partner organisation, stakeholders and communities with St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary quality and character of across the Borough. Whilst the LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect soil quality and the landscape. landscape character, the measures associated with this LFRMS objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of landscape and soils by +0 reducing the likelihood of their being adversely affected by flooding events . For e.g. soil erosion caused by rapid surface water run-off or soil leaching due to prolonged saturated soil. Under measure 2.5 – 2.6 LLFA, stakeholders and community will have better understanding of the nature of flooding and locations of areas where flooding occur within the Borough and will therefore be able to make informed decision in relation to land management options.
7. Conserving and The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources to enable enhancing geodiversity partner organisation, stakeholders and communities with St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the Borough. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to conserve and enhance +0 geodiversity the measures associated with the LFRMS Objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of features of geological interest from the adverse of flooding mainly in respect of reducing the risk of negative effects caused by flooding (e.g. soil erosion caused by rapid surface water run- off).
8. To minimise adverse The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources to enable impacts of local flood partner organisation, stakeholders and communities with St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary risk on existing and across the Borough. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to minimise flood risk to future key infrastructure, properties, businesses and infrastructure, it is expected that the measures in combination should have a positive effect through better understanding of the + properties and nature of flooding. For example, under measure 2.5, the LLFA will publish information on past incidents and potential future flood risk. The data will be businesses developed monitored and refined to improved and localise community advice and response and therefore land owners, businesses and infrastructure providers be able to make informed decision in relation to appropriate land / property management options.
9. To minimise the impact The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will provide information of the past, existing and future risks of flooding from all sources to enable of flooding on the partner organisation, stakeholders and communities within St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary character and physical across the borough. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to minimise flood risk to St. attributes of St. Helens’ Helens historic environment and heritage assets, it is expected that the measures in combination should have a positive effect through better understanding historic environment and of the nature of flooding and the risks associated with proximity to designated and non-designated heritage assets. For example, under objective 2, the LLFA + heritage assets of will publish information on past incidents and potential future flood risk. The data will be developed monitored and refined to improve and localise community historic, archaeological advice and response and therefore will inform future management options for the Borough’s heritage assets. and architectural interest and their settings
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LFRMS Objective 3: Managing Local Flood Risk To manage flood risk and the impact of flooding through a range of activities and by effective management
Measures associated with this LFRMS objective • 3.1 Community focus, partnership working and encouraging community resilience; • 3.6 Designating flood / drainage features; • 3.2 Development and implementation of Spatial Planning Policy; • 3.7 Carry out flood investigations and flood reporting; • 3.3 Establishment of SuDS Approval Body; • 3.8 Communication and public engagement; and • 3.4 Watercourse regulation: enforcement and consenting; • 3.9 Preparedness and emergency response • 3.5 Create and maintain an Asset Register;
SEA Objectives Score Justification 1. To minimise the risk of The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory flooding procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners within St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the Borough. The measures associated with the LFRMS objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of new development schemes. The ++ objective will have a direct significant positive effect on the SEA objective through delivery of more proactive measures to manage flood risk. For example measure 3.2 will involve the preparation of spatial planning policy to ensure that development planning takes account of flood risk and support existing policies to prevent inappropriate development in areas of flood risk or design in resilience and resistance to future flooding and increase SuDS; and measure 3.4 which gives new powers to the LLFA to consent acceptable works and take enforcement action against unacceptable works that could create obstructions to flows in watercourse and increase flood risk.
2. Reducing the The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory contribution to climate procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners. Whilst the LFRMS objective will not change and enabling involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to reduce St. Helens contribution to climate change, measure 3.1 will involve adaptation to climate communities working with the LLFA to develop understanding and take appropriate steps to adapt to changing flood risk, for example community adaptation change which is already +0 planning. Also, measure 3.2, through the implementation of planning policy / LDF, St. Helens Council (LLFA) as Planning Authority will ensure that decisions locked in. fully consider the implications of climate change through the undertaking of FRAs. Both measures plus communities working jointly with LLFA will develop plans for increased resilience and building the capacity to adapt to climate change within existing and new development. The LFRMS objective is likely to have an indirect positive effect.
3. To protect and maintain The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory the ecological condition procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners within St. Helens to design and incorporate of water resources robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the Borough. Whilst the LFRMS objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect and maintain the ecological condition of water resources, it is likely to have an indirect positive effect on water quality by reducing the risk of flooding events having a negative effect on water resources (For example, reducing soil erosion or contaminated run-off from urban +0 areas entering controlled water) and through more proactive initiatives to actively manage flood risk. The establishment of the SuDS Approval Body and the requirement to adhere to national standards when designing drainage schemes will provide more consistency in approach and, for example improvement in the quality of surface water run-off. However, much of the river catchment contains rivers designated as artificial or heavily modified and are failing to achieve good ecological status / potential and therefore whilst the measures associated with the objective will not lead to deterioration in ecological status / potential it is unlikely to improve on the current situation.
4. Protecting and The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory enhancing biodiversity, procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners within St. Helens to design and incorporate including both habitats robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the borough. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct and species, and intervention or physical work to protect and enhance biodiversity and nature conservation sites the measures associated with the LFRMS Objective should maintaining and +0 have an indirect positive effect on the protection of habitats and species from the adverse of flooding mainly in respect of reducing the risk of negative effects enhancing nationally, of pollution caused by flooding that could adversely affect aquatic habitats. regionally and locally designated wildlife sites and priority habitats.
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SEA Objectives Score Justification 5. Maintaining and The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory enhancing human procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners within St. Helens to design and incorporate health, including robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the borough. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure enhanced health from that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of new development schemes. The access to green spaces objective will have a direct positive effect on the health and well being of people in St. Helens through delivery of more proactive approach to flood risk + and improved equitable management. However, the LFRMS Objective is considered unlikely to have an effect on access arrangement to green spaces within the Borough. access to a healthier, happier and more sustainable lifestyle
6. To protect best quality The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory soil and enhance the procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners within St. Helens to design and incorporate quality and character of robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the borough. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct the landscape. +0 intervention or physical work to protect soil quality and landscape character, the measures associated with this LFRMS objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of landscape and soils by reducing the likelihood of their being adversely affected by flooding events (e.g. soil erosion caused by rapid surface water run-off or soil leaching due to prolonged saturated soil).
7. Conserving and The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory enhancing geodiversity procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners within St. Helens to design and incorporate robust flood risk management measures where necessary across the Borough. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct +0 intervention or physical work to conserve and enhance geodiversity the measures associated with the LFRMS Objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of features of geological interest from the adverse of flooding mainly in respect of reducing the risk of negative effects caused by flooding (e.g. soil erosion caused by rapid surface water run-off).
8. To minimise adverse The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory impacts of local flood procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners. The measures associated with the LFRMS risk on existing and Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across key infrastructure, property, and future key infrastructure, businesses and for the delivery of new development schemes. The objective will have a direct significant positive effect on the SEA objective 8 through properties and ++ delivery of more proactive approach to flood risk management. For example measure 3.2 will involve the preparation of spatial planning policy to ensure that businesses flood risk is factored into planning decisions; measure 3.4 which gives new powers to the LLFA to consent acceptable works and take enforcement action against unacceptable works that could create obstructions to flows in watercourse and increase flood risk and measure 3.10 – 3.13, which provide information of how the community can be prepared for flooding and the LLFA approach to emergency response in the event of flooding.
9. To minimise the impact The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to manage local flood risk to people and property through implementing a range of measures including regulatory of flooding on the procedures, policy, internal procedures and advice, all of which will enable community, stakeholders and partners. The measures associated with the LFRMS character and physical Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens. Whilst the LFRMS Objective attributes of St. Helens will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to minimise flood risk to St. Helens historic environment and heritage assets, it historic environment and is expected that the measures in combination should have a positive effect by reducing the risk by designated and non-designated heritage assets within St. + heritage assets of Helens. historic, archaeological and architectural interest and their settings
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LFRMS Objective 4: Actions and Interventions to reduce flood risk To develop actions and interventions to reduce flood risk
Measures associated with this LFRMS objective • 4.1 Works to mitigate or reduce flood risk; • 4.2 Develop a comprehensive maintenance regime; • 4.3 Community information provision; • 4.4 Explore funding options for flood risk management measures;
SEA Objectives Score Justification 1. To minimise the risk of The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk through a range of prevention flooding measures and / or intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct ++ intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based maintenance programmes. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens and will have a direct significant positive effect on the SEA objective.
2. Reducing the The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention contribution to climate measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals change and enabling businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct adaptation to climate +0 intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based change which is already maintenance programmes. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to reduce St. Helens locked in. contribution to climate change, the LLFA will develop maintenance and intervention measures to manage residual risk through property resilience and other long term sustainable solution. These measures are expected to have an indirect positive effect in relation to adaptation to climate change.
3. To protect and maintain The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention the ecological condition measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals of water resources businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based maintenance programmes. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect and maintain the ecological condition of water resources, it is likely to have an indirect positive effect on water quality by reducing the risk of flooding events having a negative effect on water resources.
+ The LLFA will adapt a catchment wide approach with green infrastructure solutions in order to maximise opportunities for community and environmental benefits. These benefits will include water quality improvement as the chance of contaminated runoff, particularly from urban areas polluting controlled waters will be less frequent. Also, under measure 4.4 an improved maintenance regime for ordinary watercourses, ditched and other surface water assets starting with locating, inspecting and establishing ownership, and taking enforcement actions where standards are poor. However, much of the river catchment contains rivers designated as artificial or heavily modified and are failing to achieve good ecological status / potential and therefore whilst the measures associated with the objective will not lead to deterioration in ecological status / potential it is unlikely to improve on the current situation. Works associated with maintenance and creating flood storage areas will involve engineering works that could have a temporary adverse effect on water quality.
4. Protecting and The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention enhancing biodiversity, measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals, including both habitats businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct and species, and intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based maintaining and + maintenance programmes. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect and enhance enhancing nationally, biodiversity and nature conservation sites, taking a catchment wide approach with green infrastructure solutions will have an indirect positive effect on regionally and locally biodiversity depending on the nature of the solution. designated wildlife sites and priority habitats.
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SEA Objectives Score Justification Also, in rural areas flood risk management measures will focus on working with natural processes and promoting biodiversity. For example undeveloped flood plains can be utilised to store water and reduce peak flows downstream. There are opportunities for habitat creation in these areas. Works associated with maintenance and creating flood storage areas / structural defences will involve engineering works and land take that could have a permanent adverse effect on biodiversity and nature conservation. However, under measure 4.3, in order to successfully bid for national funding for flood risk management works, LLFA and communities will have to demonstrate the environmental benefits of the scheme including measures to maintain healthy ecosystems and habitat compensation to offset any habitat loss when defences are built to protect people and property.
5. Maintaining and The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention enhancing human measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals, health, including businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct enhanced health from intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based access to green spaces maintenance programmes. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are and improved equitable adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of new development schemes. access to a healthier, + happier and more The objective will have a direct positive effect on the health and well being of people in St. Helens through delivery of more proactive approach to flood risk sustainable lifestyle management that will minimise risks to flooding on people’s lives and properties. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to improve access arrangement to green spaces, the LLFA will adopt a catchment wide approach with green infrastructure solutions which could potentially co-function as areas of leisure and recreation. In addition, the LLFA will consider long term sustainable solutions encompassing leisure and habitat creation which potentially could provide create areas of open space and green space.
6. To protect best quality The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention soil and enhance the measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals, quality and character of businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct the landscape. intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based maintenance programmes. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of new development schemes. +0 Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect soil quality and landscape character, the measures associated with this LFRMS objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of landscape and soils by reducing the likelihood of their being adversely affected by flooding events. Flood risk management measures will aim to maximise opportunities for environmental benefits including habitat creation. However, actions and interventions to reduce flood risk could include adaption of small areas of land along a river valley to hold flood water. This could potentially have an impact on soil quality and landscape depending on the nature and scale of the engineering works.
7. Conserving and The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention enhancing geodiversity measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals, businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based maintenance programmes. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of new development schemes.
+0 Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to conserve and enhance geodiversity, the measures associated with this LFRMS objective should have an indirect positive effect on the protection of geological features by reducing the likelihood of their being adversely affected by flooding events. Flood risk management measures will aim to maximise opportunities for environmental benefits including habitat creation. However, actions and interventions to reduce flood risk could include adaption of small areas of land along a river valley to hold flood water. This could potentially have an impact on soil quality and landscape depending on the nature and scale of the engineering works. (e.g. soil erosion caused by rapid surface water run-off).
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SEA Objectives Score Justification 8. To minimise adverse The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention impacts of local flood measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals risk on existing and businesses and community. future key infrastructure, properties and ++ The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct intervention and / or physical work to businesses mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based maintenance programmes. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens and will have a direct significant positive effect on the SEA objective.
9. To minimise the impact The main aim of the LFRMS Objective is to develop and deliver sustainable actions and interventions to reduce flood risk across the range of prevention of flooding on the measures to intervention actions in order to identify sustainable measures to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate flooding and support individuals, character and physical businesses and community. The LFRMS Objective will involve the LLFA, working closely with stakeholders and the community, carrying out direct attributes of St. Helens intervention and / or physical work to mitigate or reduce flood risk from all sources, identifying long term sustainable solutions and developing risk based historic environment and maintenance programmes. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are heritage assets of adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of new development schemes. historic, archaeological + and architectural interest The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented and their settings across St. Helens. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to minimise flood risk to St. Helens historic environment and heritage assets, it is expected that the measures in combination should have a positive effect by reducing the risk by designated and non-designated heritage assets within St. Helens. However, actions and interventions to reduce flood risk could include adaption of small areas to hold flood water which will involve land take. This could potentially have an impact on the character of St. Helens designated and non designated heritage assets depending on the nature and location of these works.
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LFRMS Objective 5: Environment and Sustainability To undertake flood risk management in s sustainable manner
Measures associated with this LFRMS objective • 5.1 Improve and / or maintain the capacity of existing drainage systems by targeted maintenance; • 5.2 Take a sustainable approach to flood risks management balancing economic, environmental and social benefits; • 5.3 To reduce the impact and consequences for individuals, communities, businesses and the environment from flooding; • 5.4 To ensure that planning decisions are properly informed by flooding issues and the impact future planning may have on flood risk management and long term developments; • 5.5 Contribute where possible to achieving national environmental objectives
SEA Objectives Score Justification 1. To minimise the risk of The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk flooding across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with ++ the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of sustainability benefits. It is anticipated that the objective will have a direct significant positive effect on the SEA objective.
2. Reducing the The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk contribution to climate across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with change and enabling the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the adaptation to climate delivery of sustainability benefits. The LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to reduce St. Helens change which is already contribution to climate change, nor has it been specifically stated that the objective will enable climate change adaptations in development schemes. locked in. ? However, objective 5 will aim to ensure that future planning decisions are informed by flooding issues and the impact of flooding on long term development identified. Whilst it is noted that the LLFA will take account of the most up to date best practice advice and guidance when delivering its duties with regard to flood risk and will contribute where possible to achieving national environmental objectives, the objective does not provide certainty that climate change adaptation will be implemented and delivered across future development proposals, although climate change adaptation has been covered in other LFRMS objectives. Therefore the impact of the objective on climate change is unknown.
3. To protect and maintain The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk the ecological condition across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with of water resources the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of sustainability benefits. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect and maintain the ecological condition of water resources, it is likely to have a positive effect on water quality by virtue of the LLFA new duties as Consenting Authority for ordinary watercourses and its new function as SuDS Approval Body. The LLFA will encourage, adopt and maintain SuDS hence reducing flood + risk by sustainable means. In particular, one of the main environmental benefits of SuDS include protecting and potentially enhancing water quality by filtering pollutants therefore improving the water quality of surface water run-off from development. New powers under the Act give LLFA powers of enforcement to control certain activities that may have an impact on flood risk and the environment. This will deter unauthorised works being undertaken that could have adverse effect on water quality. Also, maintenance works will comply with the requirement of the WFD. However, much of the river catchment contains rivers designated as artificial or heavily modified and are failing to achieve good ecological status / potential and therefore whilst the measures associated with the objective will not lead to deterioration in ecological status / potential it is unlikely to improve on the current situation.
4. Protecting and The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk enhancing biodiversity, across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with including both habitats the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the and species, and delivery of sustainability benefits. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect and maintaining and enhance biodiversity and nature conservation sites, new powers of enforcement and consenting and new roles as SuDS Approval Body is likely to have a + enhancing nationally, positive effect through the delivery of more SuDS schemes which amongst other benefits will include the provision of habitats for wildlife, delivery of new regionally and locally Green Infrastructure and protection of existing wetland due to their key role in surface water management. The LLFA will take account of the most up to date designated wildlife sites best practice advice and guidance when delivering its duties with regard to flood risk and will contribute where possible to achieving national environmental and priority habitats. objectives which will include objective of the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. Also maintenance works will comply with the requirement of the Habitats Directive.
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SEA Objectives Score Justification 5. Maintaining and The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk enhancing human across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with health, including the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the enhanced health from delivery of sustainability benefits. Objective 5, will have a indirect positive effect on the health and well being of people in St. Helens by balancing effective access to green spaces +0 flood risk management and the social benefits associated with the reduction to the impact and consequences for individuals and communities. Under new and improved equitable powers under the Act, the LLFA will encourage adopt and maintain SuDS providing, amongst other things, opportunity for the provision of Green access to a healthier, Infrastructure, community engagement and amenity. Depending on the nature of these provisions, new Green Infrastructure provision could function as happier and more green spaces for community use. sustainable lifestyle
6. To protect best quality The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk soil and enhance the across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with quality and character of the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the the landscape. delivery of sustainability benefits. The LLFA in undertaking its duties for flood risk management will utilise the most up to date and best practice advice and guidance and contribute where possible to national environmental objectives, one of which is the conservation and protection of soil resources which is a national asset. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct intervention or physical work to protect soil quality and landscape + character, the measures associated with this LFRMS objective should have a positive effect on the protection of landscape and soils given the priority placed on delivering multiple benefits in the context of sustainability, environmental and social improvement. The LLFA role as SuDS Approval Body is likely to have a positive effect through the delivery of more SuDS schemes which amongst other benefits will include the provision of habitats for wildlife and landscape amenity for the community. The provision of new Green Infrastructure will enable areas of land to remain or be transformed into more natural areas, thus conserving the natural landscape and soil resources.
7. Conserving and The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk enhancing geodiversity across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the delivery of sustainability benefits. The LLFA in undertaking its duties for flood risk management will utilise the most up to date and best practice advice and guidance and contribute where possible to national environmental objectives. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct + intervention or physical work to conserve and enhance geodiversity, the measures associated with this LFRMS objective should have a positive effect on the protection of geological features given the priority placed on delivering multiple benefits in the context of sustainability, environmental and social improvement. The LLFA role as SuDS Approval Body is likely to have a positive effect through the delivery of more SuDS schemes which amongst other benefits will include the provision of habitats for wildlife and landscape amenity for the community. The provision of new Green Infrastructure will enable areas of land to remain or be transformed into more natural areas, thus conserving the natural landscape, soil resources and other geological features.
8. To minimise adverse The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk impacts of local flood across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with risk on existing and the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the future key infrastructure, + delivery of sustainability benefits. The objective will have a positive effect on the SEA objective through the LLFA undertaking its duties to reduce to reduce properties and the impact and consequences of flooding to individuals, communities, businesses and the environment (objective 5). businesses
9. To minimise the impact The main aim of the LFRMS objective is to incorporate sustainability, environmental and social improvement alongside the LLFA duties to manage flood risk of flooding on the across St. Helens in order to deliver multiple benefits whilst working with partners to identify local priorities and opportunities. The measures associated with character and physical the LFRMS Objective will combine to ensure that robust flood risk management measures are adopted and implemented across St. Helens including the attributes of St. Helens delivery of sustainability benefits. The LLFA in undertaking its duties for flood risk management will utilise the most up to date and best practice advice and historic environment and +0 guidance and contribute where possible to national environmental objectives. Whilst the LFRMS Objective will not involve the LLFA carrying out any direct heritage assets of intervention or physical work to St. Helens historic environment and heritage assets, it is expected that the measures in combination should have a indirect historic, archaeological positive effect given the priority placed on delivering multiple benefits in the context of sustainability, environmental and social improvement and by reducing and architectural interest the risk by designated and non-designated heritage assets. The LLFA role as SuDS Approval Body is likely to have a positive effect through the delivery of and their settings more SuDS schemes which amongst other benefits will include the provision of habitats for wildlife and landscape amenity for the community.
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Environmental Report Lead Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
7.6 Appendix F – Strategic Environmental Assessment Framework
SEA Objective Sustainability Issues Potential Indicator 1. To minimise the risk of flooding Historic record of flooding events; Number of new developments permitted in areas of flood risk; 2. Reducing the contribution to Significant infrastructure; climate change and enabling Number of developments permitted adaptation to climate change Surface water flooding incidents; contrary to EA advice; which is already locked in. Residential properties at risk of fluvial Number of flood defences developed; flooding from 100 year event; Number of SuDS implemented since the Flooding from Sankey Brook and its publication of the Flood Risk Management tributaries; Strategy.
Culvert / Sewer Blockage; Mitigation measures and actions implemented by the Strategy which takes Impact of development on neighbouring account of the impact of climate change. authorities of Halton and Warrington
3. To protect and maintain the Chemical and Biological status of water Ecological status of waterbodies; ecological condition of water bodies; resources Chemical status of waterbodies. Contaminated Land.
4. Protecting and enhancing St. Helens’ rich habitats and species; Habitat creation and compensation biodiversity, including both resulting from the Strategy policies, habitats and species, and North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan; actions and measures; maintaining and enhancing Tree cover. nationally, regionally and locally Loss of habitat resulting from the Strategy designated wildlife sites and policies, actions and measures; priority habitats. Achievement of North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan targets and Mersey Forest Plan.
5. Maintaining and enhancing St. Helens aging population; Number of flood related injuries; human health, including enhanced health from access to green Residential and Commercial properties at Number of properties / businesses at risk spaces and improved equitable risk of flooding; of flooding; access to a healthier, happier and more sustainable lifestyle Accessibility countryside, attractions, Change in area / number / quality of public services, natural open spaces, recreational and amenity facilities resulting from the Strategy Greenspace policies, actions and measures.
6. To protect best quality soil and High grade soil resource ; Area / number of incidences where Grade enhance the quality and character 1, 2 or 3 soil is lost due to need for flood of the landscape. Landscape Character; alleviation / defences;
7. Conserving and enhancing Geological Sites Number of flood alleviation / defence geodiversity developments to be located within the Green Belt.
8. To minimise adverse impacts of Wide range of physical and social Number of properties / businesses at risk local flood risk on existing and infrastructure; of flooding; future key infrastructure, properties and businesses Properties at risk of flooding; Number and severity of incidents leading to disruption or damage St. Helens social Population Circa 177,100 and physical infrastructure.
9. To minimise the impact of flooding Rich heritage including a number of The number of Strategy policies, on the character and physical Schedule Ancient Monuments, Conservation measures and actions developed and attributes of St. Helens historic Areas, and Listed Buildings implemented to protect St. Helens’ environment and heritage assets heritage site from flooding; of historic, archaeological and architectural interest and their Flood alleviation / defences developed that settings affect the integrity and settings of St Helen’s heritage sites.
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7.7 Appendix G – List of References
1 A Practical Guide to Strategic Environmental Assessment, Former ODPM, September 2005
2 Guidance for risk management authorities on sustainable development in relation to their flood and coastal erosion risk management functions, DEFRA, October 2011
3 Mersey Estuary Catchment Flood Management Plan, Environment Agency, December 2009
4 Merseyside Mineral Resource, British Geological Survey, October 2005
5 North West River Basin Management Plan, Environment Agency, December 2009
6 Agricultural Land Classification Map, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1988
7 St. Helens Annual Monitoring Report, St. Helens Council, 2011
8 Liverpool City Region Ecological Framework, Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service, October 2011
9 St. Helens Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, Atkins, June 2009
10 The Mersey, Mersey Basin Campaign, undated
11 Draft LDF Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report, Scott Wilson, May 2010
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