Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report - Addendum

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Wiltshire Local Development Framework

February 2012

Contents Page

1. Introduction...... 1 1.1 Introduction ...... 1 1.2 Sustainability appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment ...... 1 1.3 Identifying additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 2 1.4 Baseline information ...... 2 1.5 Identifying sustainability issues (including environmental problems) ...... 2 1.6 Sustainability Appraisal Framework ...... 3 1.7 Consultation ...... 3 1.8 Structure of this report ...... 3

2. Topic 1: Biodiversity ...... 5 2.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 5 2.2 Additional baseline information ...... 7 2.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 17 2.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 17 2.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 20

3. Topic 2: Land and soil resources ...... 21 3.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 21 3.2 Additional baseline information ...... 24 3.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 30 3.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 30 3.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 31

4. Topic 3: Water resources and flood risk ...... 32 4.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 32 4.2 Additional baseline information ...... 37 4.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 41 4.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 42 4.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 42

5. Topic 4: Air quality and environmental pollution ...... 43 5.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 43 5.2 Additional baseline information ...... 44 5.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 48 5.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 49 5.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 49

6. Topic 5: Climatic factors ...... 50 6.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 50 6.2 Additional baseline information ...... 51 6.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 55 6.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 55 6.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 56

7. Topic 6: Historic environment ...... 57 7.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 57 7.2 Additional baseline information ...... 62 7.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 66 7.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 66 7.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 68

8. Topic 7: Landscapes ...... 69 8.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 69 8.2 Additional baseline information ...... 72 8.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 80 8.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 80 8.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 81

9. Topic 8: Population and housing ...... 83 9.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 83 9.2 Additional baseline information ...... 84 9.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 90 9.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 90 9.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 91

10. Topic 9: Healthy communities ...... 92 10.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 92 10.2 Additional baseline information ...... 93 10.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy ... 98 10.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 99 10.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 99

11. Topic 10: Inclusive communities ...... 100 11.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 100 11.2 Additional baseline information ...... 101 11.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy . 104 11.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 105 11.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 105

12. Topic 11: Education and skills ...... 106 12.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 106 12.2 Additional baseline information ...... 106 12.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy . 109 12.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 110 12.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 110

13. Topic 12: Transport ...... 112 13.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 112 13.2 Additional baseline information ...... 113 13.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy . 120 13.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 120 13.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 122

14. Topic 13: Economy and enterprise ...... 123 14.1 Additional policies, plans and programmes ...... 123 14.2 Additional baseline information ...... 127 14.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy . 137 14.4 Review of key sustainability issues ...... 138 14.5 Sustainability objectives ...... 139

15. Next steps and further information………… ...... 140

Appendix A – Statutory environmental consultees consultation responses

List of abbreviations

Acronym Description AA Appropriate Assessment AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AQMA Air Quality Management Area ASB Anti-social behaviour BAP Biodiversity Action Plan BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method CAF Countryside Access Forum CHP Combined Heat and Power CIL Community Infrastructure Levy CSH Code for Sustainable Homes CWS County Wildlife Site DCLG Department of Communities and Local Government DPD Development Plan Document EEC European Economic Community FRA Flood Risk Assessment GI Green Infrastructure HRA Habitats Regulations Assessment IMD Indices of Multiple Deprivation LCA Landscape Character Assessment LDF Local Development Framework LPA Local Planning Authority LSOAs Local Super Output Areas MoD Ministry of Defence NDP Neighbourhood Development Plan NPPF National Planning Policy Framework ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister OMS Offshore Marine Sites PAS Planning Advisory Service PDL Previously Developed Land PFRA Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment PPS Planning Policy Statement RoWIP Rights of Way Improvement Plan RSS Regional Spatial Strategy SA Sustainability Appraisal SAC Special Area of Conservation SAM Scheduled Ancient Monument SANGS Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SFRA Strategic Flood Risk Assessment SHLAA Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment SLA Special Landscape Area SPA Special Protection Area SPD Supplementary Planning Document SSCT Strategically Significant Cities or Towns SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest SuDS Sustainable Drainage Systems SWMP Site Waste Management Plan or Surface Water Management Plan

1. Introduction

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This report serves as an addendum to the Wiltshire Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report1, adopted by Wiltshire Council in April 2010.

1.1.2 The purpose of this addendum is to provide an updated evidence base for the sustainability appraisal process that is currently being undertaken on the Wiltshire Core Strategy, and potentially for the assessment of future local development documents within Wiltshire’s Local Development Framework (LDF).

1.1.3 The function of the Scoping Report is to set the context and objectives, establish a baseline and to decide on the scope of the future sustainability appraisal process; it was published in April 2010 after a comprehensive and wide ranging public consultation exercise. It is important that this evidence gathering exercise is updated regularly as evidence becomes outdated and new information made available, in order that the sustainability appraisal can achieve its principal aim of promoting the objectives of sustainable development within planning policy.

1.1.4 This addendum documents additional information that has become available to the council from a wide range of sources and that is considered relevant to the LDF and sustainability appraisal. It updates the thirteen topic papers published alongside the original scoping report but, at this stage, does not seek to replace them.

1.2 Sustainability appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment

1.2.1 The purpose of sustainability appraisal is to promote the objectives of sustainable development within planning policy. The sustainability appraisal process is governed by European and national legislation, supported by government policy, which includes:

• The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and PPS12, which requires consideration of sustainability appraisal for all emerging Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents

• The requirements of European Directive 2001/42/EC (often known as the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive) which requires the preparation of an environmental report that considers the significant environmental effects of a plan or programme. This Directive is transposed into UK law by The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004: Statutory Instrument 2004 No. 1633 (SEA Regulations)

1.2.2 Sustainability appraisal incorporates the requirements of the SEA Directive, by combining the more environmentally-focused considerations of SEA with wider social

1 Wiltshire Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (Wiltshire Council, April, 2010) http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ldfsustainabilityappraisal.htm

and economic effects. The Scoping Report forms part of the environmental report required by the SEA Directive.

1.3 Identifying policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

1.3.1 The council must take account of relationships between the Core Strategy and other relevant policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives. The SEA Directive specifically requires environmental protection objectives established at international, European Community or national levels to be taken into account.

1.3.2 A thorough review was undertaken of relevant plans, policies and programmes and this was presented in the April 2010 Scoping Report. This included a wide range of international, national, regional and local objectives, all of which may influence the options to be considered in preparation of the Core Strategy. Information on these relationships enables potential synergies to be exploited and any inconsistencies and constraints to be addressed.

1.3.3 Sections 2-14 highlight relevant recent plans, policies and objectives that have been published since the original review that are considered necessary to include at this stage. These documents are relevant to the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy and will be taken into account in the ongoing sustainability appraisal process.

1.4 Baseline information

1.4.1 'Baseline' means the main characteristics of the current situation and important trends in the area of the plan. Baseline information provides the basis for predicting and monitoring effects and helps to identify sustainability problems and alternative ways of dealing with them. A thorough review of the sustainability ‘baseline’ in Wiltshire was undertaken, consisting of both qualitative and quantitative information, including an analysis of indicators which show trends on whether the situation is getting better or worse.

1.4.2 Sections 2-14 document any additional baseline information that is considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the emerging Core Strategy.

1.5 Identifying sustainability issues (including environmental problems)

1.5.1 The identification of sustainability issues (including environmental problems as required by the SEA Directive) is an opportunity to define key issues for the Core Strategy and to develop sustainable plan objectives and options. Identifying sustainability issues is key to reaching an informed view on the sustainability of the plan.

1.5.2 Sustainability issues can be any problems or uncertainties which need to be understood and addressed before the Core Strategy can be confidently considered sustainable; they do not need to be precisely defined, but they can include matters which give rise to concern or controversy. On the basis of the issues identified, sustainability appraisal objectives have been defined.

1.5.3 Sections 2-14 document any additional sustainability issues resulting from the baseline review and knowledge of current issues/problems in Wiltshire.

1.6 Sustainability Appraisal Framework

1.6.1 During the development of the Scoping Report, and particularly through consultation with the public and key stakeholders, Wiltshire Council developed a framework for undertaking the sustainability appraisal. This consists of sustainability objectives which provide a way in which the effects of the Core Strategy can be described, analysed and compared.

1.6.2 Sustainability appraisal objectives are different in concept and purpose from the objectives of the Core Strategy, though there is a degree of overlap. They are not necessarily intended to be achievable, but are more aspirational in nature, and address the full cross-section of sustainability issues, including social, economic and environmental factors laid down by law or policy.

1.6.3 In the sections that follow, if the review of plans, policies and programmes, sustainability baseline, key issues and consultation with key stakeholders highlights a need to amend any of the objectives for the sustainability appraisal this will be explained.

1.7 Consultation

1.7.1 To meet the requirements of the SEA Directive, the council must seek the views of the SEA environmental consultation bodies designated in the SEA Regulations (English Heritage, Natural England and the Environment Agency) on the scope and level of detail of the environmental information to be included in the Sustainability Appraisal Report.

1.7.2 The SEA consultation bodies have had input into this addendum paper and their comments are presented in Appendix A.

1.8 Structure of this report

1.8.1 This report is structured in order of the topic papers which accompanied the Scoping Report adopted in April 2010. These topic papers can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ldfsustainabilityappraisal.htm and are as follows:

• Topic Paper 1: Biodiversity • Topic Paper 2: Land and soil resources • Topic Paper 3: Water resources and flood risk • Topic Paper 4: Air quality and environmental pollution • Topic Paper 5: Climatic factors • Topic Paper 6: Historic environment • Topic Paper 7: Landscapes • Topic Paper 8: Population and housing

• Topic Paper 9: Healthy communities • Topic Paper 10: Inclusive communities • Topic Paper 11: Education and skills • Topic Paper 12: Transport • Topic Paper 13: Economy and enterprise

1.8.2 In each section that follows, additional information considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy is documented under the headings of ‘additional relevant policies, plans and programmes’, ‘additional baseline information’, ‘review of key sustainability issues’ and ‘sustainability objectives’. The likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy is also given consideration.

1.8.3 This review has been significantly informed by the evidence base for the Core Strategy, including the sustainable community strategy for Wiltshire.

2 Topic 1: Biodiversity

2.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

2.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment • The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature (HM Government, 2011) • Making Space for Nature: a review of England’s wildlife sites and ecological network. Report to Defra. (Lawton et al; 2010) • Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system (ODPM, 2005)

Plan/Programme Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment Level National Document date March 2010 Summary of document This is a consultation document on a new planning policy statement (PPS) on planning for the natural environment, green infrastructure, open space, sport, recreation and play. A key objective of this single new PPS is to bring together related policies on the natural environment and on open and green spaces in rural and urban areas to ensure that the planning system delivers healthy sustainable communities which adapt to and are resilient to climate change and gives the appropriate level of protection to the natural environment. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions With regards biodiversity/geodiversity: Planning should ensure that development is delivered in a way which protects and enhances the natural environment and provides places which contribute to the quality of life, health and wellbeing of those living and working there. Planning should: conserve and enhance the natural environment, including the quality, character and value of the landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and soil within rural and urban areas by ensuring that construction, development and regeneration has minimal impacts on biodiversity and should enhance it wherever possible to contribute to the overall aim of no net loss to biodiversity. Local planning authorities should include criteria-based policies in their local development frameworks against which to judge proposals for development on, or affecting: (i) sites of regional and local biodiversity and geodiversity interest, including Local Nature Reserves and Local Sites including Regionally Important Geological Sites Local development frameworks should set out a strategic approach for the creation, protection and management of networks of green infrastructure.

Plan/Programme The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature Level National Document date June 2011 Summary of document The proposals set out a detailed programme of action to repair damage done to the environment in the past, and urges everyone to get involved in helping nature to flourish at all levels – from neighbourhoods to national parks. The plans are contained in ‘The Natural Choice’, the first White Paper on the natural environment in 20 years, and are directly linked to the research in the National Ecosystem Assessment published last week that showed the strong economic arguments for safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment. The White Paper also acts on the recommendations of ‘Making Space for Nature’, a report into the state of England’s wildlife sites, led by Professor John Lawton and published in September 2010, which showed that England’s wildlife sites are fragmented and not able to respond to the pressures of climate change and other pressures we put on our land. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions We must properly value the economic and social benefits of a healthy natural environment while continuing to recognise nature’s intrinsic value. The Government wants this to be the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than it inherited. To achieve so much means taking action across sectors rather than treating environmental concerns in isolation. It requires us all to put the value of nature at the heart of our decision-making – in Government, local communities and businesses. We will mainstream the value of nature across our society by: • facilitating greater local action to protect and improve nature; • creating a green economy, in which economic growth and the health of our natural resources sustain each other, and markets, business and Government better reflect the value of nature; • strengthening the connections between people and nature to the benefit of both; and • showing leadership in the European Union and internationally, to protect and enhance natural assets globally.

Plan/Programme Making Space for Nature: a review of England’s wildlife sites and ecological network. Report to Defra. (Lawton et al; 2010) Level National Document date 2010 Summary of document An independent review of England’s wildlife sites and the connections between them with recommendations to help achieve a healthy natural environment that will allow our plants and animals to thrive. The review has considered whether England’s collection of wildlife areas (both the legally protected areas and others) represents a coherent and robust ecological network that will be capable of responding to the challenges of climate change and other pressures. The review was chaired by Professor Sir John Lawton who was supported by a panel of 14 members. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions ‘We propose that the overarching aim for England’s ecological network should be to deliver a natural environment where: Compared to the situation in 2000, biodiversity is enhanced and the diversity, functioning and resilience of ecosystems re-established in a network of spaces for nature that can sustain these levels into the future, even given continuing environmental change and human pressures. We also recommend that this be underpinned by three objectives: (1) To restore species and habitats appropriate to England’s physical and geographical context to levels that are sustainable in a changing climate, and enhanced in comparison with those in 2000. (2) To restore and secure the long-term sustainability of the ecological and physical processes that underpin the way ecosystems work, thereby enhancing the capacity of our natural environment to provide ecosystem services such as clean water, climate regulation and crop pollination, as well as providing habitats for wildlife. (3) To provide accessible natural environments rich in wildlife for people to enjoy and experience’.

Plan/Programme Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system Level National Document date August 2005 Summary of document This circular provides administrative guidance on the application of the law relating to planning and nature conservation as it applies in England. It complements the expression of national planning policy in Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9) and the accompanying Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide to Good Practice. It includes procedures for carrying out appropriate assessment for Natura 2000 sites, authorising operations likely to damage SSSIs, protection of Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats, and protected species. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The Circular is structured on a topic basis, bringing together advice on sources of legislation relevant to various nature conservation topics which may be encountered by planning authorities, rather than a statute-based approach. Part I deals with the conservation of internationally designated sites: Special Protection Areas (SPAs) classified under the EC Birds Directive, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) designated under the EC Habitats Directive, and Ramsar sites listed under the provisions of the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance; Part II deals with Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the consultation and notification processes; Part III covers planning for nature conservation outside the designated sites; Part IV deals with the conservation of species and Part V provides advice on other duties and use of statutory powers.

2.2 Additional baseline information

2.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Natura 2000 Network

2.2.2 There are 14 Natura 2000 sites present wholly or partially within Wiltshire, including three SPAs, 10 SACs and one Ramsar (see below).

Site Feature of Interest Salisbury Plain SPA / Stone curlew, hen harrier, hobby, quail. Calcareous grassland and SAC juniper heath supporting marsh fritillary butterflies. Porton Down SPA Stone curlew Bath & Bradford on Horseshoe and Bechstein’s bats Avon Bats SAC Chilmark Quarries Horseshoe, barbastelle and Bechstein’s bats SAC Great Yews SAC Yew woodland Kennet & Lambourn Desmoulin’s whorl snail Floodplain SAC New Forest SPA / Dartford warbler (breeding), honey buzzard (breeding), nightjar SAC (breeding), woodlark (breeding) and hen harrier (wintering). Wet and dry heathland, woodland, grasslands, and wetland mosaics of mires, ponds, streams and fens. North Meadow and Lowland hay meadows Clattinger Farm SAC Pewsey Downs Calcareous grassland

Prescombe Down Calcareous grassland supporting early genitian and marsh SAC fritillary River Avon SAC – Chalk river supporting Desmoulin’s whorl snail, Atlantic salmon, bullhead, brook lamprey and sea lamprey

2.2.3 These sites support some of Europe’s rarest habitats and species, and also provide some of the finest remaining examples of these wildlife resources. They are widely recognised as being of major importance to the UK’s biodiversity and are major components in our ecological network. John Lawton’s recent review of the UK’s wildlife sites network has highlighted their importance and the need to increase their size and quality through favourable management in order to ensure that they remain strong components of the ecological network in the future.

2.2.4 These sites are afforded the strictest protection under the Habitats Regulations (2010) and can be sensitive to the effects of certain developments due to their size, nature or location, even when situated at a significant distance from the designated areas. In particular, those sites which are potentially susceptible to impacts as a result of development include:

• Increased recreational disturbance upon breeding birds on Salisbury Plain and in the New Forest • Loss of bat roosts, habitat loss / fragmentation and lighting in the areas around the Bath and Bradford on Avon Bats SAC sites • Physical damage to habitats of the River Avon SAC • Water pollution issues associated with additional discharge from sewage treatment works discharging in the River Avon SAC • Water shortages to accommodate increased abstraction in the River Avon SAC catchment

Wiltshire Core Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) February 2012

2.2.5 The HRA assesses any impacts of the Core Strategy against the conservation objectives of sites of European importance for nature conservation in, and outside Wiltshire, to ascertain whether it would adversely affect the integrity of any sites concerned. Wiltshire Council appointed WSP Environmental Consultants to undertake the HRA requirements for the Wiltshire Core Strategy. It is important that the sustainability appraisal takes account of HRA findings in order that consideration can be given to mitigating any adverse effects.

2.2.6 The main conclusions of the HRA Report follow:

• Potential effects associated with increased recreational pressure are acknowledged in Core Policy 50 ‘Biodiversity and Geodiversity’. The preferred approach is to manage the potential for increased recreational pressure through management measures, with Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space only to be provided in exceptional circumstances. A Green Infrastructure Strategy is also under development; the combination of these measures will provide sufficient mitigation to ensure that adverse impacts on European sites are avoided; • Policies intended to address potential impacts on European sites in the South Wiltshire Core Strategy have been fully integrated into the Wiltshire Core Strategy;

• Core Policy 69 ‘Protection of the River Avon SAC’ sets out the issues and measures to protect the SAC. It can be concluded that, provided development can be accommodated within the existing headroom of the Sewage Treatment Works, or other measures are put in place, Construction Management Plans are prepared and implemented and the Nutrient Management Plan referenced in the supporting text is implemented, there should be no adverse effect on the integrity of the River Avon SAC arising from the Core Strategy; • Potential impacts associated with air quality are an issue at the Cotswold Beechwoods SAC site which falls under the management plan for the Cotswolds AONB. Core Policy 55 ‘Air Quality’ sets out measures that may be required to contribute to the air quality strategy for Wiltshire. It is recommended that Policy 55 identifies the role of Low Emission Strategies (Defra 2010) as a way of tackling transport related emissions and the need to consider the potential for air quality impacts on European sites, this would be consistent with Core Policy 25 in the South Wiltshire Core Strategy; • Core Policy 55 should be amended to state that assessment will be required for new industrial processes located within 10km of a European site; • Text in the Draft Core Strategy relating to the Corsham and Bradford – on – Avon Community Areas states that all development will be planned and delivered in accordance with Wiltshire Council guidance to maintain the integrity of the Bath and Bradford-on-Avon Bats Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Draft Core Strategy could go further by committing the Council to developing a process for ensuring that developments within 4km of the SAC will not have a significant adverse effect on it. Such a statement could be included in Core Policy 50 ‘Biodiversity and Geodiversity.’ Such a statement would enable the HRA to conclude that the Core Strategy will not give rise to significant adverse effects on the SAC. • We recommend that the Core Strategy includes the following at Policy 50 or the supporting text: “Any development that would have an adverse effect on the integrity of a European nature conservation site will not be in accordance with the Core Strategy”” • This would help demonstrate that the Core Strategy will not give rise to significant adverse effects on European sites and be consistent with the approach taken in the South Wiltshire Core Strategy which contains a similar statement at Objective 5.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

2.2.7 There are 135 SSSIs in Wiltshire covering over 29,000ha of calcareous grassland, lowland meadows, broadleaved woodland, streams, rivers, standing waters and a wide variety of other habitat types which also support important populations of British wildlife. This network of sites is of national importance, providing a representative sample of our most important wildlife and geological sites. Wiltshire’s proportion of the SSSI network has suffered significant declines in the past, with 77% currently in unfavourable condition, however recent investment in the network and the efforts of Natural England have ensured that almost all of those sites are now recovering, with 2 only 0.52% of the SSSI network in Wiltshire in unfavourable declining condition .

2 Natural England SSSI Condition Summary for Wiltshire compiled 1 April 2011 http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/reportAction.cfm?Report=sdrt18&Category=C&Ref erence=1046

2.2.8 Damage to SSSIs as a result of development is understood to be very rare in Wiltshire due to strict compliance with the statutory procedures required by Section 28, as set out in PPS9 and Circular 06/2005.

Nature Map

2.2.9 Biodiversity South West has produced the south west Nature Map (see Figure 1)24; this goes beyond the protection of special sites and identifies opportunities for habitat restoration and creation to withstand the challenges of climate change and species loss. Crucially it provides a scientifically robust methodology for defining a set of ecologically functional tracts of land which are large enough, close enough together, and of the right quality to provide for the needs of our native species and the habitats they occupy, in the long term.

2.2.10 This was completed by making use of available research, accepted ecological concepts and professional opinion to quantify Strategic Nature Areas (SNAs) for priority habitats in the South West; in Wiltshire this highlights opportunities to restore major areas of broadleaved woodland, neutral grassland, limestone grassland, chalk downland, river networks and wetland habitats. This information is being used as a basis for several landscape scale conservation projects across the region, particularly the emerging Biodiversity Delivery Areas.

2.2.11 This approach of opportunity mapping is well established as an important tool for landscape scale conservation and spatial planning is also recognised as an important delivery mechanism. Indeed when the south west Nature Map was produced, it was intended that it would be linked to emerging LDFs in order to aid delivery, and several of the adopted Core Strategies across the south west do refer to the Nature Map.

2.2.12 Some strategic development which is planned during the plan period will fall within SNAs including the east of Trowbridge extension and the proposed area of growth at Warminster, while extension of other towns including Malmesbury, Tidworth, Ludgershall, Marlborough and Cricklade could potentially fall within SNAs. Development in SNAs has the potential to cause further fragmentation and sterilise areas of land from restoration back to the target habitat type, equally however, major development offers the potential to create, restore and enhance target habitat types through informed and sensitive masterplanning and developer contributions.

2.2.13 The south west Nature Map was developed after Wiltshire’s current suite of local plans was adopted, and the local plans therefore contain no policy mechanism to protect these areas from development that might prejudice delivery of SNA targets. Opportunities for masterplans and landscaping schemes to help contribute towards the objectives of the Nature Map are often missed due to poor awareness of this evidence base and a lack of recognition in the local plans.

County Wildlife Sites

2.2.14 There are approximately 1,550 County Wildlife Sites (CWSs) in Wiltshire covering approximately 21,000ha of semi-natural habitats including most of our main rivers, ancient woodlands, our best wildflower meadows and the wetlands of the Cotswold Water Park. Although our CWSs are recognised for being of county significance for

wildlife, many of them are as rich in wildlife and as valuable as SSSIs; the CWS network is intended to be a comprehensive collection of our best wildlife sites, whereas the SSSI network is only a representative sample of the best examples of certain habitats and species. The CWS network therefore represents an incredibly important resource for Wiltshire’s wildlife; however it does not receive any statutory protection and is vulnerable as a result.

2.2.15 The Wiltshire and Swindon Wildlife Sites Project undertakes monitoring of the CWS network and offers advice to private landowners about the special value of their land and how to manage this favourably; 54% of the CWS network is known to be under positive management. The network is also regularly updated as sites are de-notified as they become damaged, destroyed or degraded, but new sites are also added as they are discovered. Five sites were denotified in 2008-09, four in 2009-10 and 11 in 2010-2011 as a result of degradation and development.

2.2.16 Professor Sir John Lawton’s recent review of England’s wildlife sites Making Space for Nature has identified and stressed the importance of local wildlife sites, but also reports that they are often neglected, poorly managed, damaged or lost. Among his recommendations Professor Lawton advises that planning policy and practice should provide greater protection to local wildlife sites. DEFRA has also stressed the importance of local wildlife sites in providing refuges for wildlife, representing local character and distinctiveness, and playing a significant role in meeting national biodiversity targets, and also recommends that Development Plan Documents should include criteria based policies on the protection of local wildlife sites3.

2.2.17 CWSs are currently afforded protection in the planning system under PPS9 and local plan policies. These policies aim to protect the CWS network from the adverse effects of development unless the reasons for the proposal outweigh the value of the site, in which case they allow mitigation /compensation measures to be conditioned as part of any permission granted. While these policies tend to protect CWSs from direct damage or loss, Wiltshire Council officers have identified a number of weaknesses associated with their implementation which have led to the damage or degradation of CWSs:

• Indirect and offsite effects such as trampling, fly-tipping, fires, isolation, pollution and disturbance are not recognised, making it difficult to control such impacts through conditions or obligations.

• Restoration potential is not recognised. Some CWSs have become degraded through lack of appropriate management but could be restored through favourable management. These areas are undervalued and as such are often lost to development and with it any restoration potential. Development can represent an opportunity to restore CWSs to favourable condition; however there is currently no driver to do so.

• Lack of commitment to manage a CWS appropriately can lead to long-term neglect, degradation and damage. The presence of a CWS in or next to a development should be seen as a community asset, and a commitment should be made maintain such areas responsibly.

2.2.18 A review of the current local policies also reveals that they do not reflect the requirements of PPS9, particularly the sequential mitigation hierarchy of avoidance

3 DEFRA (2006) Local Sites: Guidance on Their Identification, Selection and Management

(including consideration of alternative sites and layouts), mitigation measures, only then considering compensation measures, and finally ‘if significant harm cannot be prevented, adequately mitigated against, or compensated for, then planning permission should be refused.’ Any significant harm would need to be weighed against the reasons for the proposal by the planning officer / committee, however the current policies do not require that such reasons should be in the public rather than private interest i.e. Wiltshire’s communities must benefit in some way from the degradation of their natural environment in order to ensure that permissions are environmentally just.

2.2.19 Wiltshire Council has adopted NI197 as an indicator to measure its performance against the government’s national priorities. The indicator is intended to measure the active management of local sites as a measure of movement towards the target of improving biodiversity. Wiltshire Council has achieved its target of increasing the number of sites in favourable management for the past three years; development could provide opportunities to bring further sites into favourable management to deliver these targets.

Local Nature Reserves (LNR)

2.2.20 Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are for both people and wildlife. They offer people special opportunities to study or learn about nature or simply to enjoy it. All district and county councils have powers to acquire, declare and manage LNRs. To qualify for LNR status, a site must be of importance for wildlife, geology, education or public enjoyment. Some are also nationally important Sites of Special Scientific Interest. LNRs must be controlled by the local authority through ownership, lease or agreement with the owner. The main aim must be to care for the natural features which make the site special.

2.2.21 The following table lists LNRs in Wiltshire and LNR type and area:

Local Nature Reserve LNR type Area (Ha) Avon Valley Reserve Urban Fringe 20.19 Bemerton Heath and Barnards Folly Urban Fringe 11.63 Conygre Mead Urban Fringe 2.53 Corston Quarry and Pond Rural 0.5 Drews Pond Wood Urban Fringe 3.87 Jubilee Lake Urban Fringe 4.01 Mortimore's Wood Urban Fringe 1.44 Oakfrith Wood Rural 14.52 River Wylye Not Known 4.22 Smallbrook Meadows Urban Fringe 6.14 Source: Natural England

2.2.22 Total area LNR in Wiltshire therefore is currently 69.05Ha. Accessible Natural Greenspace Guidance4 states that there should be at least one hectare of LNR per 1000 population - Wiltshire’s population is estimated at 456,1005 so this works out at 0.15Ha LNR per 1000 population. This figure is relatively low compared with many of Wiltshire’s neighbouring authorities; however it does not take into account the wide range of other publicly accessible areas of open space that Wiltshire’s residents have access to.

4 ‘Nature Nearby’ - Accessible Natural Greenspace Guidance (Natural England, 2010) 5 Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2009 Mid-year population estimates

Protected road verges

2.2.23 Wiltshire’s Protected Road Verges (PRVs) scheme also identifies road verges which are of important nature conservation value due to the presence of rare or notable species, the presence of valuable habitats, functions as a wildlife corridor linking other wildlife sites, geological features or areas of community value. Given their proximity to the local road network, PRVs can be impacted by development where this requires new or upgraded road junctions or any widening of the carriageway.

2.2.24 There are approximately 50 PRVs in Wiltshire and they are monitored by volunteers. The road verge monitors keep a check on the condition of their verges and are responsible for monitoring the botanical / biological interest. Reports from all the monitors are collated annually and used as a basis for ongoing management of the verges.

Local Geological Sites

2.2.25 Local Geological Sites (LGSs) are currently the most important places for geology and geomorphology outside of geological SSSIs. LGSs (formerly Regional Sites of Geological Importance or RIGS) are selected in a different way to Earth science SSSIs, which are chosen by Natural England on a national basis, while LGSs are selected on a local or regional basis using four nationally agreed criteria:

• The value of the site for educational purposes in lifelong learning; • The value of the site for study by both professional and amateur Earth scientists; • The historical value of the site in terms of important advances in Earth science knowledge, events or human exploitation; and • The aesthetic value of a site in the landscape, particularly in relation to promoting public awareness and appreciation of Earth sciences.

2.2.26 The concept of RIGS was first initiated by the Nature Conservancy Councils (NCC) in 1990. RIGS sites started life as SSSIs which were denotified after the Geological Conservation Review (1997-1990), however the statutory agencies wished to secure their conservation in another form. RIGS sites are those which, whilst not benefiting from national statutory protection, are nevertheless regionally or locally representative sites where ".... consideration of their importance becomes integral to the planning process".

2.2.27 There are currently 58 LGSs in Wiltshire which include exposures of limestone, chalk, sand, gravel, sandstone and clay. Wiltshire Geology Group is currently undertaking a project to monitor the condition of all of these sites, which has revealed that almost all of them are in declining condition, and indeed five sites were lost and denotified during the period 2009-10. LGSs are likely to be significantly under recorded, and there are likely to be many more important sites within Wiltshire which have not yet been discovered.

2.2.28 LGSs can be affected by a wide range of development through covering or damaging exposures or contributing to the encroachment of vegetation through landscape management practices, however the greatest threats tend to be posed by mineral and waste developments. At the same time, development can provide opportunities to re-expose sites in poor condition, identifying previously unknown but significant

features during environmental assessments, and making a contribution to accessibility and long-term management of such sites.

2.2.29 PPS9 states that an objective of planning is to conserve, enhance and restore the diversity of England’s geology by sustaining, and where possible improving, the quality and extent of geological and geomorphological sites, and that development plan policies should aim to maintain, and enhance, restore or add to geological conservation interests. It also includes a direct requirement to establish criteria based policies against which proposals for any development on, or affecting, LGSs should be judged.

2.2.30 Each of the local plans and the Structure Plan offers a degree of protection to RIGS / LGS through inclusion of policies on local sites such as County Wildlife Sites. There are no known instances where development proposals have resulted in the damage or loss of geological features, and it is not therefore possible to comment on the effectiveness of these policies. However it is worth noting that while the policies afford protection from damage through development, they do not include any driver for positive management or access which might enhance and secure our known geodiversity for the future.

Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan

2.2.31 Wiltshire’s current BAP was produced in 2008 by the Wiltshire BAP Steering Group, made up of representatives from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Wiltshire Council, Natural England, Biodiversity South West, Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre, and the Cotswold Water Park Society. It includes action plans for ten habitats, and although there is only one action plan for a species group (bats), 260 local BAP species are listed50; actions for these species are generally covered by their relevant habitat action plan and / or a UK BAP action plan. These habitats and species are included in the BAP due to significant declines within Wiltshire

2.2.32 Professor Lawton’s report has stressed the importance of BAP habitats in acting as core areas, ‘stepping stones’ and connections of ecological networks, and recommends that planning policy should provide greater protection to priority habitats.

2.2.33 Wiltshire holds a huge proportion of the national resource for several of these habitat types e.g. calcareous grassland, parkland and neutral meadows; we therefore have a duty to act as responsible stewards of this resource on behalf of the UK. At the same time we have very little of some other habitat types remaining in Wiltshire e.g. traditional orchards, and we must protect these remaining fragments to ensure that we do not lose what we have left.

2.2.34 Existing local plans refer to Areas of High Ecological Value (AHEVs) shown on proposals maps. AHEVs were identified to highlight areas which, on the basis of landscape characteristics, were likely to contain species and habitats of conservation importance. Local plan policies emphasised the need to ensure development avoided harm to ecological interests within these areas. AHEVs have been superseded by the Wiltshire BAP and there is no need therefore to have policy to protect them.

2.2.35 At present only the North Wiltshire Local Plan has a specific policy on BAP habitats / species (NE11 – Conserving Biodiversity). Other plans briefly mention BAPs within other policy areas (Kennet), or refer to specific habitat types (West Wiltshire) or ‘the

diversity of flora and fauna’ (south Wiltshire). These policies do not reflect the direct requirement set out in PPS9 for local plans to include policies to protect and conserve BAP habitats / species, and to identify opportunities to enhance to them. As a result, Wiltshire Council officers struggle to adequately protect BAP habitats / species from inappropriate development, or to secure measures to enhance them; cumulatively this is likely to have contributed to continued declines for these habitats / species.

Disturbance

2.2.36 Development has the potential to cause disturbance of the natural environment within the site itself, however such effects can also occur at significant distances from the development site. Such disturbances can range from short-term or one-off events to long-term, permanent effects. Examples include:

• Damage to habitats through trampling, mountain biking, fires, fly-tipping, litter, dog fouling etc; • Disturbance of wildlife during construction through noise and vibration • Predation of domestic cats upon wildlife such as nesting birds and water vole; • Recreational disturbance of sensitive fauna, particularly by dog walkers; • Pollution and siltation of waterbodies / courses from run-off; • Disturbance of nocturnal fauna through the use of artificial lighting79; • Visual disturbance and mortality from wild farms; and • Mortality caused by increased traffic or new roads.

2.2.37 Although such effects can be significant especially in combination, they are often overlooked in environmental assessments, and can often be reduced through the use of method statements, design / landscape schemes and planning obligations. Some disturbance impacts are an inherent part of the proposed change of use and cannot be fully overcome, however such impacts should be made clear in the proposals, in order that they can be weighed against the benefits of development during the decision-making process.

2.2.38 The Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the Wiltshire 2026 consultation document carried out in 2009 identified the potential impacts of anticipated development upon the Salisbury Plain and New Forest SPAs. Research has shown that stone curlew is very sensitive to recreational disturbance, particularly from dog walkers, and that the vast majority of regular visitors live within 15km of the plain. The HRA therefore concluded that proposed housing within this 15km radius of the plain could potentially impact upon stone curlew breeding success through increased recreational disturbance.

2.2.39 Recreational disturbance has also been confirmed as having a significant effect upon the breeding success of the Dartford warbler and nightjar, and development in the south of the county could potentially increase recreational disturbance on these species in the New Forest. Potential mitigation measures have been identified to reduce and offset this recreational pressure through:

• Habitat mitigation / enhancement measures to increase the number of suitable nest sites; • Provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Green Spaces (SANGS); and • Securing management measures including access control.

2.2.40 Delivery of these measures would need to be secured through partnership working with organisations such as the New Forest National Park Authority, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the Wessex Stone Curlew Project, and funded by developer contributions.

2.2.41 The current suite of local plans includes policies on the protection of legally protected species, some of which address the disturbance of such species. This legislation and policy protects only a very limited range of species from relatively narrowly defined deliberate disturbance and does not cover the wider range of biodiversity or address the potential indirect effects listed above which can be sufficiently significant as to be considered a material consideration in planning decisions. Wiltshire Council officers often find that the impacts of disturbance on wildlife are overlooked in environmental assessments, and it is difficult to secure mitigation measures which would reduce such impacts, particularly where impacts are long-term or offsite.

2.2.42 There is currently no local policy on disturbance of breeding birds associated with the Salisbury Plain and New Forest SPAs. The Wiltshire LDF is unlikely to meet the requirements of a full HRA without a policy response to this issue, in which case it could not be legally adopted by the council. A local policy is also likely to be required in order to justify the collection of any developer contributions require to deliver mitigation measures for individual developments.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire South West England Land designated as SAC 7% 4% 9% Land designated as SSSI 8.3% 7% 8.3% Total land area which is wildlife rich habitat 15% Not available Not available Local sites in positive management (NI197) 54% Not available Not available Source: Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011

2.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

2.3.1 Biodiversity in Wiltshire continues to be threatened by many activities, including habitat loss and fragmentation, agriculture, housing development, road building, water pollution, air pollution and climate change. The Core Strategy is likely to adversely affect existing biodiversity assets through promoting development, especially on greenfield land. However, it also contains a wide range of policies concerned with protecting and enhancing the natural environment, and policies promoting Green Infrastructure (GI) are one example of this.

2.3.2 Without implementation of the Core Strategy, we will be relying on existing saved policies that are possibly weaker and less coordinated that do not give such a strong steer towards protection and enhancement of the natural environment. There is no current saved policy on GI which will provide a strategically planned network of multi- functional green spaces across Wiltshire.

2.3.3 Development proposals will still come forward if there was no Core Strategy, but possibly in less sustainable locations that may directly lead to increased loss of biodiversity or may not provide the mitigation and enhancement measures that would be needed.

2.3.4 In terms of potential effects of climate change on biodiversity, whether we have a Core Strategy or not is unlikely to be significant as climate change is a global issue. Our effects on the climate are most likely to arise from human activity, especially energy use and transport resulting from existing and future population. Any future changes in the climate are likely to have both positive and negative effects on biodiversity, with some species benefitting and others adversely affected.

2.4 Review of key sustainability issues

2.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to biodiversity and geodiversity which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

2.4.2 Strategic Nature Areas - Recent research has shown the importance of landscape scale conservation projects in order to create a resilient landscape which can withstand the increasing pressures of climate change in combination with the long- term trends of habitat loss and fragmentation. Major development within these SNAs could sterilise some areas with potential for habitat restoration, however at the same time landscape schemes and new public open spaces could create opportunities for such restoration.

2.4.3 Local Sites – County Wildlife Sites are an invaluable resource for our natural environment and our local databases demonstrate that they are a vital component of Wiltshire’s ecological network. There is a general slow trend towards the loss and degradation of CWSs and although there is an existing policy framework which protects CWSs in the planning process, there have been continued losses as a result of development, indicating that these existing policies are deficient. Community consultations and documents have revealed that our communities are concerned about local wildlife and are keen to see it protected and enhanced where possible.

2.4.4 Wiltshire Biodiversity Plan - The existing policy framework has been shown to be weak, only providing partial protection and failing to encompass some of the principles set out in PPS9 or harness opportunities for biodiversity gain. The LDF presents an opportunity to improve the existing policy framework for BAPs in order to offer them better protection through the planning system, in line with the mitigation hierarchy, while also providing a stronger driver to maximise for biodiversity gain through development, particularly for major schemes.

2.4.5 Disturbance - Research has shown that development can cause significant disturbance to wildlife throughout the construction and operational phases of development, particularly associated with residential development; indeed the effects of disturbance can be seen at some of our recent developments. Some of this disturbance must be accepted as an unavoidable symptom of the land use change required to support the growth and development of Wiltshire’s communities, however there are steps which should be taken to manage and reduce this disturbance as a part of the planning process. There is currently little recognition of the effects of disturbance in planning applications, and it is difficult to secure avoidance measures due to a lack of support from the current policy framework. Inclusion of policy wording on disturbance would provide a mechanism to manage disturbance resulting from development and reduce its cumulative effects on Wiltshire’s wildlife.

2.4.6 Salisbury Plain SPA and New Forest National Park SPA - Research has shown that rare bird species breeding within these areas are very sensitive to recreational disturbance, particularly dog walkers, and specific concerns have been raised by Natural England and the RSPB in relation to proposed development close to these areas that could increase recreational pressures, particularly the housing allocations proposed in the LDF. Mitigation measures have been identified and could be adopted through developer contributions and partnership working with Wessex Stone Curlew Project, however a policy response to this issue will be required in order to make the Core Strategy compliant with the Habitats Regulations and provide a mechanism to gather planning contributions.

2.4.7 River Avon SAC - The Hampshire Avon catchment incorporates a large proportion of the county, and development along the river and its tributaries has the potential to impact upon its species interests. Given the large number of developments which could potentially affect the river, the River Avon Planning Forum has adopted a screening procedure to identify any development likely to have an adverse effect; any such development is generally subject to appropriate planning controls to ensure that any potential impacts are avoided, otherwise the application is subject to a full appropriate assessment in consultation with Natural England. Where there are likely significant effects, developers are generally required to submit a Construction Environmental Method Statement in support of their application, and while this system would continue to operate in the interim, it is intended that the River Avon SAC procedure and developer guidance would form part of a wider Biodiversity SPD. This procedure is considered to be an effective means to protect the ecological interest of the river from potentially damaging development and no further policy response is considered necessary at this time.

2.4.8 Natural England has also raised concerns about phosphate levels in the River Avon which have remained above national targets for a considerable period, and particularly the contribution from additional development in the catchment and associated flows from Sewage Treatment Works (STWs). This has prompted significant infrastructure improvements at STWs across the catchment which have significantly lowered phosphate discharges and improved water quality of the river, although phosphate levels are still likely to remain above target levels due to contributions from diffuse sources. It is understood that Natural England and the Environment Agency are currently undertaking a joint Nutrient Management Plan for the River Avon catchment which will aim to address these diffuse sources of phosphate in the catchment in addition to any further improvements to point sources where possible.

2.4.9 As the regulator responsible for all discharges into the river (including those to groundwater), Environment Agency and has recently carried out a review of all discharges in the catchment with the aim of modifying these where necessary to ensure that they will not affect the integrity of the SAC; the review concluded that licensed discharges would not affect site integrity and no further upgrades to the sewage infrastructure would be necessary subject to delivery of the Nutrient Management Plan. The main waste water utility provider for the catchment (Wessex Water) has confirmed that it can accommodate all of the planned development within the licensed headroom during the plan period. Therefore at present no likely significant effects upon the River Avon SAC are anticipated as a result of the planned growth and any potential impacts would be identified and controlled by the Environment Agency through the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2010), although the Nutrient Management Plan has not yet been fully costed, and in the event that this cannot deliver the necessary phosphate reductions in the catchment,

causing the Environment Agency to change the conclusion of its Review of Consents, a policy response may be required address any necessary mitigation measures e.g. developer contribution to secure delivery of the Nutrient Management Plan.

2.4.10 The working group for the Nutrient Management Plan is due to report during summer 2011, and the need for a policy response will be kept under review prior to preparation of the submission draft of the Core Strategy. In the long-term the Environment Agency will also continue to monitor water quality in the river during the plan period and where this indicates that water quality is declining due to additional development, it will advice on any requirements of the planning system or specific contributions which the planning authority may take to help protect the river.

2.4.11 Bath and Bradford on Avon Bats SAC - This designation comprises a network of several component sites over a wide area used by the bats for roosting, foraging and commuting. Planning applications in this area with potential to affect the SAC are regularly identified, and generally amended to avoid any significant impacts; however there is currently no procedure for screening applications in this area. Development pressures are generally low in this area, however cumulative impacts could be significant, particularly when considered in combination with impacts from development in the Bath and North East Somerset (BNES) administrative area and from minerals development affecting underground sites in the area. The Core Strategy does not allocate any significant development within this area which would be likely to have significant effects upon the SAC, and no policy response is considered necessary within the Core Strategy; however ongoing cumulative effects could be significant.

2.4.12 Wiltshire Council is therefore working on guidelines for developers and planners in the area (including the BNES administrative area) to improve the detection of applications with potentially adverse effects and ensure that such impacts are identified and addressed at an early stage. It is also intended to keep a register of planning applications affecting the qualifying species and work more closely with the BNES local authority ecologists to improve our understanding of cumulative effects of development on this site.

2.4.13 Housing Allocations - Certain housing allocations have been identified as having potential effects upon important features of the natural environment, including:

Trowbridge – River Biss corridor, Green Lane and Biss Woods CWSs, Bechstein’s bats associated with the Bath and Bradford Bats SAC Bradford on Avon – Bath and Bradford Bats SAC Chippenham – River Avon CWS and Bird’s Marsh Wood CWS

2.4.14 While these developments could potentially affect features of local, national and international importance, impacts can be largely avoided through the use of development briefs to ensure that development is delivered in a sustainable manner. Development briefs for major allocations will also be used in association with the Green Infrastructure Strategy to help deliver opportunities for biodiversity gain through development at these sites.

2.5 Sustainability objectives

2.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to biodiversity and geodiversity. The current objective is:

‘ Protect and enhance all biodiversity and geological features and avoid irreversible losses’.

2.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, baseline information, and discussions with stakeholders, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objective at this time.

3 Topic 2: Land and soil resources

3.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

3.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Inspection Strategy for Contaminated Land (Wiltshire Council, date unknown) • Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment (DCLG, 2010) • Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Core Strategy 2006-2026 (Wiltshire Council, 2011) • Proposed submission draft waste site allocations DPD (Wiltshire Council, 2011) • Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 • Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2010

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Council Inspection Strategy for Contaminated Land Level Local Document date No date on document Summary of document The Wiltshire Contaminated Land Strategy is part of a wider regulatory and strategic framework which is intended to protect the environment from inappropriate development, pollution, environmental crime and inadequate waste management. The strategy sets out the council‟s approach to inspecting its area to identify contaminated sites and ensure proportionate, timely and effective action is taken to make them suitable for use. Its core objective is: ‘To protect human health and the environment by identification of potentially contaminated sites that require detailed individual inspection in a rational, ordered and efficient manner and to ensure a proportionate response to contamination and remediation using a risk based approach’

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Key objectives of the report include to: • Inspect the district to identify areas of land where land contamination is likely to present • Determine which sites meet the statutory definition of contaminated land and if these sites need to designated as special sites • Ensure that effective remediation of contaminated land occurs, by voluntary action if possible and by the use of enforcement powers should this become necessary • Determine who is responsible for causing the pollution and who should pay for the clean up (the polluter pays principle applies) • Inform the public of the action taken and to maintain a public register of declared sites • Ensure that potential land contamination issues are considered in all strategic planning and developmental control decisions.

Plan/Programme Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment Level National Document date March 2010 Summary of document This is a consultation document on a new planning policy statement (PPS) on planning for the natural environment, green infrastructure, open space, sport, recreation and play. A key objective of this single new PPS is to bring together related policies on the natural environment and on open and green spaces in rural and urban areas to ensure that the planning system delivers healthy sustainable communities which adapt to and are resilient to climate change and gives the appropriate level of protection to the natural environment. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions It is the Government’s policy that planning should conserve and enhance the natural environment, including the quality, character and value of the landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and soil within rural and urban areas. When considering applications involving significant areas of agricultural land, local planning authorities should take account of the presence of best and most versatile agricultural land (defined as land in grades 1, 2 and 3a of the Agricultural Land Classification) alongside other sustainability considerations. Where significant development of agricultural land is unavoidable, local planning authorities should seek to develop areas of poorer quality land (grades 3b, 4 and 5) in preference to that of a higher quality, except where this would be inconsistent with other sustainability considerations. Little weight should be given to the loss of agricultural land in grades 3b, 4 and 5, except in areas (such as uplands) where particular agricultural practices may themselves contribute to the quality and character of the environment or the local economy.

Plan/Programme Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Core Strategy 2006-2026

Level Local Document date July 2009 Summary of document The Waste Core Strategy for Wiltshire and Swindon sets out the strategic planning policy framework for waste management over the next 20 years. The Waste Core Strategy forms one element of the Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals and Waste Development Framework. The Strategy gives a summary of the current characteristics of waste management activities in Wiltshire and Swindon. Important issues are identified such as the lack of waste management facilities in the Salisbury area and that non-hazardous landfill sites are concentrated in the north of the Plan area. In addition, it is recognised that the management of waste is not easily reconciled based on geo-political boundaries. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Strategic Objectives for Wiltshire and Swindon: 1. Involving the Community - Provide clear guidance to the community of Wiltshire and Swindon on waste planning policy issues and proposals 2. The Need for Waste Management Facilities - Ensure that there is a sufficient and flexible network of safeguarded waste management facilities that make adequate provision for waste requiring management in Wiltshire and Swindon 3. The Environment - Protect and enhance the diverse and highly valued natural and historical environment of Wiltshire and Swindon, incorporating the landscape character, biodiversity and geological interests and cultural heritage. 4. The Waste Hierarchy - To ensure the best use will be made of the waste produced in Wiltshire and Swindon by driving waste up the management hierarchy.

Plan/Programme Proposed submission draft waste site allocations DPD Level Local Document date June 2011 Summary of document The proposed submission draft Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) is the third in a series of documents designed to guide the use of land within Wiltshire and Swindon for waste management development. Once adopted, it will form part of both Wiltshire and Swindon's Local Development Frameworks. It provides a spatial representation of the principles set out in these documents by presenting what Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council consider to be a sound framework of local and strategic sites suitable to meet future waste management needs in Wiltshire and Swindon up to 2026. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions This document contains details of a total of 43 sites which are considered suitable to accommodate future waste management uses by the councils. The sites contained in this document are classed as either strategic or local and comprise: i. Site specific allocations; or ii. Areas of search - e.g. land allocated in the development plan for employment uses or existing industrial areas within which waste uses could be accommodated.

Plan/Programme Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 Level National Document date March 2011 Summary of document The new Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 came into force on 29 March 2011. They update some aspects of waste controls. The need for waste permits and authorisations for certain activities therefore does not change. The regulations implement the revised Waste Framework Directive and; • Require businesses to confirm that they have applied the waste management hierarchy when transferring waste and to include a declaration on their waste transfer note or consignment note; • Require a new permit waste hierarchy permit condition and where appropriate a condition relating to mixing of hazardous waste • Introduce a two-tier system for waste carrier and broker registration, which includes those who carry their own waste, and introduces a new concept of a waste dealer; • Make amendments to hazardous waste controls and definition; • Exclude some categories of waste from waste controls, notably animal by-products whilst include a small number of radioactive waste materials.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The regulations implement the aims of the Directive by getting business to think differently about whether waste needs to be produced in the first place and which are the best ways of managing it. The regulations affect businesses that: produce waste, import or export waste, carry or transport waste, keep or store waste, treat or dispose of waste or who operate as waste brokers or dealers. Certain changes involve the following areas that businesses will need to consider: 1. Using the waste management hierarchy 2. Carrying waste 3. Be aware of changing Environmental Permit conditions 4. Check whether waste is now excluded from waste controls 5. Radioactive wastes - check to see if waste controls now apply 6. Check hazardous waste procedures 7. End of Waste 8. Separate waste collections

Plan/Programme Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2010 Level National Document date April 2010 Summary of document The Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2010 were introduced on 6 April 2010, replacing the 2007 Regulations. In 2007 the Regulations combined the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) and Waste Management Licensing (WML) regulations. Their scope has since been widened to include water discharge and groundwater activities, radioactive substances and provision for a number of Directives, including the Mining Waste Directive. The Environmental Permitting system simplifies permit applications, amendments and variations for both industry and regulator and thereby cuts unnecessary red tape. It allows regulators to focus resources on medium and high-risk operations whilst continuing to protect the environment and human health. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 have produced a single regulatory framework by streamlining and integrating: • Waste Management Licensing, • Pollution Prevention and Control, • Water discharge Consenting, • Groundwater authorisations, and • Radioactive Substances Regulation Environmental Permitting also provides a tool for delivering the permitting and compliance requirements of EU directives such as those relating to the Batteries Directive and Mining Waste Directive.

3.2 Additional baseline information

3.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Best and most versatile agricultural land

3.2.2 Productive agricultural land which can consistently provide good crop yields is a valuable resource, which is likely to become increasing important in the future as demand for food increases and lower quality soils fail to yield crops as the effects of climate change are experienced. The importance of high quality agricultural land has long been recognised; hence the UK has been mapped using the Agricultural Land Classification (ALC), which grades land on a scale 1-5. Grades 1-3a are termed Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land as the land which is most flexible, productive and efficient in response to inputs and which can best deliver future crops for food and non-food uses such as biomass and fibres6.

3.2.3 Development has the potential to remove BMV land from production, and such losses can be a material consideration in planning, as recognised in PPS7 which requires that BMV land be taken into consideration alongside other sustainability criteria, and where the loss of agricultural land is unavoidable, that this be directed towards lower ALC grades. Natural England requires consultation for applications involving the loss of 20ha or more BMV land. Soil protection is also mentioned in

6 Natural England (2009) Agricultural land Classification: Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land http://naturalengland.etraderstores.com/NaturalEnglandShop/product.aspx?ProductID=88ff926a- 3177-4090-aecb-00e6c9030b29

PPS1 and its associated supplement for climate change, and as an element of the environment requiring assessment in the both SEA and EIA Directives.

3.2.4 PPS7 requires that local plans identify any major areas of BVM land that are planned for development, and this has been carried out through the Sustainability Appraisal process in identifying and selecting sites for housing and employment allocations. Given the low availability of brownfield land for development in Wiltshire, many of the allocations are likely to fall to Greenfield sites; however BMV land has been given appropriate weighting in the site selection process. Windfall development is likely to be generally small in nature and unlikely to result in major losses of BMV land during the plan period, however the requirements of PPS7 will be applied to applications on BMV land.

3.2.5 The Draft National Planning Policy Framework7, published in July 2011, states that local planning authorities should ‘take into account the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality, except where this would be inconsistent with other sustainability considerations or the Local Plan’s growth strategy and where poorer quality land is unavailable or unsuitable’.

Effective use of land

3.2.6 The Draft National Planning Policy Framework states that ‘planning policies and decisions should make effective use of land, promote mixed use developments that create more vibrant places, and encourage multiple benefits from the use of land in urban and rural areas, recognising that some open land can perform many functions (such as for wildlife, recreation, flood risk mitigation, carbon storage, or food production)’. The NPPF does not set a national target for developing previously developed land.

3.2.7 Strategic objective 5 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy consultation document June 2011 states that ‘the reuse of Wiltshire’s limited amount of previously developed land should be maximised’. Core Policy 2 – Delivery strategy – of that same document seeks to deliver future development in the most sustainable manner by ‘making the best use of developable land within Wiltshire to ensure a flexible and responsive supply of land, including the re-use of previously developed land in order to support regeneration opportunities, and limit the need for development on greenfield sites’. It also states that ‘at least 35% of development will take place on previously developed land’.

3.2.8 The Core Strategy supports the provision of economic development on previously developed and Core Policy 23 explains the Strategy’s approach to brownfield sites in the market towns and in the principal settlements of Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury. Core Policy 23 states ‘Regeneration of brownfield sites will be supported in the principal settlements and market towns where the proposed uses help to deliver the overall vision for that town and/or enhance the vitality and viability of the town

7 Draft National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG, 2011)

centre by introducing a range of active uses that do not compete with the existing town centre.

New and converted dwellings on previously developed land in Wiltshire

Area Greenfield/brownfield 2007 2008 2009 2010 East Greenfield 2.4% 30.8% 9.7% 29.4% Wiltshire Brownfield 97.6% 69.2% 90.3% 70.6% North Greenfield 39.0% 29.8% 18.9% 10.5% Wiltshire Brownfield 61.0% 70.2% 81.1% 89.5% South Greenfield 42.3% 60.9% 52.2% 71.1% Wiltshire Brownfield 57.7% 39.1% 47.8% 28.9% West Greenfield 52.3% 35.7% 40.4% 38.9% Wiltshire Brownfield 47.7% 64.3% 59.6% 61.1% Wiltshire Greenfield 37.0% 37.1% 30.6% 39.9% Brownfield 63.0% 62.9% 69.4% 60.1% Source: Wiltshire Council Land Use Monitoring System

Efficient use of land

3.2.9 The National Planning Policy Framework sets no national target for housing density. It states that local planning authorities should ‘set out their own approach to housing density to reflect local circumstances; and ‘identify and bring back into residential use empty housing and buildings in line with local housing and empty homes strategies and, where appropriate, acquire properties under compulsory purchase powers’.

3.2.10 Using land efficiently through setting appropriate housing densities for development ensures that no more land than is necessary is used for a development. This is a particular issue in Wiltshire as a relatively low level of previously developed land means more development needs to occur on greenfield land. The Wiltshire Core Strategy (Core Policy 39) requires an indicative minimum of 30 dwellings per hectare for residential development. The supporting text states that ‘density is interlinked with design and it is essential that imaginative design solutions are encouraged to achieve higher density levels were appropriate. However, increased densities of residential development must not be at the expense of design quality or private amenity space’.

3.2.11 Trends in Wiltshire and the three principal settlements of Salisbury, Trowbridge and Chippenham are shown in the following table:

Percentage of new dwellings completed at 1) less than 30 dwellings per hectare (dph), 2) between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare (dph), 3) above 50 dwellings per hectare (dph)

Area Completed at 2007 2008 2009 2010 Wiltshire Less than 30 dph 22.0% 22.1% 23.5% 32.8% Between 30 and 50 dph 49.9% 43.9% 34.8% 34.5% Above 50 dph 28.2% 33.9% 41.7% 32.7% Average - 24.7dph 29.8dph 25.7dph Chippenham Average - 60.7dph 64.2dph 54.5dph Salisbury Average - 90.6dph 42.9dph 39.4dph Trowbridge Average - 42.6dph 44.0dph 39.6dph Source: Wiltshire Council Land Use Monitoring System

Contaminated land

3.2.12 Wiltshire Council has produced an Inspection Strategy for Contaminated Land. This sets out the council’s methodology for how it will inspect sites; at this stage it does not give details of individual sites. When further inspection work is carried out and details are available on specific sites the sustainability appraisal will be updated. Further information can be obtained from: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/pollutionandnoise/contaminatedland.htm

Waste

3.2.13 The council collected 216,542 tonnes of household waste in 2009-2010. The majority of commercial premises are serviced by private contractors, although the council collects some commercial waste: 15,000 tonnes in 2009-2010. An accurate total picture of waste production in the county is therefore not currently available, but estimates suggest that it could be as much as 600,000 tonnes.

3.2.14 A key objective for the authority is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and maximise recycling rates. Alongside a 7.4% reduction in the amount of waste collected since its peak in 2004-2005, there has been a drive to increase recycling services and establish alternatives to disposing of waste in landfills.

Wiltshire Council’s waste performance

2005/06 2009/10 Landfill 66% 47% Energy from waste 0% 14% Recycling and composting 34% 39% Source: Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011

3.2.15 This table shows a significant reduction in waste going to landfill between 2005/06 and 2009/10 and a smaller increase in recycling and composting during that period. Energy from waste has risen from zero to 14% during that period.

3.2.16 National Indicator (NI) 191 measures the level of residual waste produced per household and can be used to compare local authorities throughout the country. Wiltshire’s figure for 2009-2010 was 647.6kg per household. The latest available comparative data is for 2008-2009 and shows that Wiltshire produced slightly less residual waste per household than the national average, but more than the South West.

Waste comparison table

Wiltshire South West England Residual waste per capita (NI 663.60kgs 626kgs 669kgs 191) for 2008-2009 Recycling rate (NI 192) for 40.51% 42.30% 37.60% 2008-2009 Waste to Landfill (NI 193) for 56.40% 56.40% 50.30% 2008-2009 Source: Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011

Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Core Strategy 2006-2026

3.2.17 The Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Core Strategy 2006-2026 contains much of the current information that is available regarding waste in Wiltshire and Swindon and should be referred to for further detail. It can be viewed or downloaded at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mineralsandwastepolicy.htm

3.2.18 The development of the evidence base that underpins the Minerals and Waste Development Framework revealed a number of key issues that the Waste Core Strategy must address. The key ‘drivers of change’ relating to the future of waste management in Wiltshire and Swindon are outlined below:

Key Issue 1: Substantial population growth in Wiltshire and Swindon and the need for additional waste management capacity

3.2.19 The projected population growth will lead to pressure on resources and a need to plan for additional waste management capacity.

Key Issue 2: Identifying future site locations, rationalising the framework of waste management sites and the environmental importance of Wiltshire and Swindon

3.2.20 The decisions made in terms of locating future waste management facilities must have regard to the significant number of environmental designations in Wiltshire. Due to the rich and diverse environment of Wiltshire and Swindon suitable site locations are likely to be limited and hence difficult decisions will have to be taken in terms of where sites will be located. This is particularly true of south Wiltshire where there are limited waste management facilities.

Key Issue 3: The approach to waste management in Wiltshire and Swindon

3.2.21 The approach to waste management in Wiltshire and Swindon is another issue that must be resolved. Reducing the amount of waste produced in Wiltshire and Swindon and driving waste up the management hierarchy are important issues. The approach consumers and producers take to address these challenging tasks are also key considerations.

Wiltshire and Swindon proposed submission draft waste site allocations DPD (Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council, June 2011) http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wastesiteallocations.htm

3.2.22 The Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) builds upon policies in the Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Core Strategy and identifies broad locations for future waste management facilities. It links to the Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD with regard to providing sites for aggregate recycling facilities. Refer to the draft waste sites allocations DPD for further information on specific sites throughout Wiltshire.

3.2.23 Policy WCS3 of the Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Core Strategy identifies a need to deliver the following capacities through the Waste Site Allocations DPD:

Capacity allocated within the Waste Core Strategy Policy WCS3 to be delivered in the Waste Site Allocations DPD

Waste stream Capacity to be delivered as at 2006 (tpa) Municipal • 54,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of treatment capacity for municipal waste management for Wiltshire and Swindon • Three HRCs, a MRF and a composting facility for the management of Wiltshire’s municipal waste • Suitable municipal waste management facilities in Swindon to achieve the target of 50% recycling by 2010 Industrial and • 915,870 cubic metres of void space capacity for the management Commercial of industrial and commercial waste • 250,000 tpa of treatment capacity for industrial and commercial waste management for Wiltshire and Swindon • 150,000 tpa of recycling capacity for industrial and commercial waste management for Wiltshire and Swindon. Inert • 950,000 cubic metres of void space capacity for the management of inert waste • 90,000 tpa of transfer capacity for the management of inert waste in Wiltshire and Swindon.

3.2.24 However, the requirements set out in Policy WCS3 were established using a base date of 2006. Since then a number of waste management facilities have been permitted increasing the existing capacity for the plan area. The following table illustrates the changes to the capacity gap as identified through annual monitoring of planning applications.

Additional permitted waste management capacity in Wiltshire and Swindon 2006 - 2010

Waste stream Type of facility Capacity (tpa) Municipal Waste Treatment • 60,000 tpa (in Wiltshire of which only • 38,000 tpa of biodegradable waste diverted from landfill) Outdoor Composting 35,050 tpa Recycling 38,000 tpa Industrial and Waste Treatment 122,000 tpa commercial Recycling 91,538 tpa Landfill 604,867 cubic metres Inert Recycling / Transfer 96,730 tpa Landfill 988,000 cubic metres

3.2.25 The following table shows the revised capacity gap figures that the councils need to provide for.

Waste stream Capacity to be delivered (tpa) Municipal • 16,000 tpa of treatment capacity for municipal waste management for Swindon • A HRC and a MRF for the management of Wiltshire’s municipal waste • Suitable municipal waste management facilities in Swindon to continue achieving the target of 50% recycling and to meet the objectives of the Swindon Municipal Waste Strategy. Industrial and • 311,003 cubic metres of void space capacity for the management of Commercial industrial and commercial waste • 128,000 tpa of treatment capacity for industrial and commercial waste management for Wiltshire and Swindon • 58,462 tpa of recycling capacity for industrial and commercial waste

management for Wiltshire and Swindon. Inert • 0 cubic metres of void space capacity for the management of inert waste • 0 tpa of transfer capacity for the management of inert waste in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire South West England Residual waste per capita (NI 191) for 2008-2009 663.60kgs 626kgs 669kgs Recycling rate (NI 192) for 2008-2009 40.51% 42.30% 37.60% Waste to Landfill (NI 193) for 2008-2009 56.40% 56.40% 50.30% Source: Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011

3.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

3.3.1 In Wiltshire, there is a limited amount of brownfield land to develop and in the future, an increasing amount of greenfield land is likely to be needed for housing and employment growth. The Core Strategy promotes development of Wiltshire’s remaining brownfield sites, particularly in town centres. These sites, which will often require significant remediation, may not be developed as quickly, or at all, without the pro-active approach of the Core Strategy. There is also likely to be less emphasis on high density development in sustainable locations, such as town centres, that can benefit from good public transport links and proximity to local services and facilities.

3.3.2 Policies regarding waste are contained within other DPDs and recycling rates continue to increase, however the amount of waste also increases with an increasing population. The need for waste infrastructure has been assessed through the Core Strategy, particularly to meet the demands of new housing, and without Core Strategy implementation the necessary waste infrastructure may not be in place to deal with future population growth.

3.4 Review of key sustainability issues

3.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to land and soil resources which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework include:

• Recognising the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land and where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, seeking to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality.

• Continuing to promote the efficient and effective use of land as a way of reducing loss of greenfield land, whilst recognising the relatively limited amount of brownfield land in Wiltshire and the need to provide land for housing and employment to meet the needs of a rapidly increasing population.

• Continuing to promote reductions in the amount of waste produced in Wiltshire whilst driving waste up the waste hierarchy.

• The remaining areas of contaminated land in Wiltshire will require adequate risk assessment and remediation prior to any development.

3.5 Sustainability objectives

3.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives, two of which relate to this topic area. The current objectives are:

• Ensure efficient and effective use of land and the use of suitably located previously developed land and buildings; and

• Promote sustainable waste management solutions that encourage the reduction, re- use and recycling of waste.

3.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objectives at this time.

4 Topic 3: Water resources and flood risk

4.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

4.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Flood and Water Management Act 2010 • Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (DCLG, 2010) • Underground, under threat – The state of groundwater in England and Wales (Environment Agency, date unknown) • South West River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) • Thames River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) • South East River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) • Wiltshire Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 (Wiltshire Council, 2009) • Wiltshire Council Surface Water Management Plan – focussed on Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury. Phase I & II Final Report (URS/Scott Wilson, 2011) • Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment for Wiltshire Council (Wiltshire Council, 2011)

Plan/Programme Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Level National Document date 2010 Summary of document The Flood and Water Management Act provides for better, more comprehensive management of flood risk for people, homes and businesses, helps safeguard community groups from unaffordable rises in surface water drainage charges and protects water supplies to the consumer.

The Act implements Sir Michael Pitt’s recommendations requiring urgent legislation, following his review of the 2007 floods. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The Flood and Water Management Act has three Parts: 1. Flood and coastal erosion risk management - this Part gives the Environment Agency a strategic overview of the management of flood and coastal erosion risk in England, and a similar role in Wales to Welsh Ministers. In accordance with the Government’s Response to the Pitt Review, it also gives upper tier local authorities in England, and local authorities in Wales, responsibility for preparing and putting in place strategies for managing flood risk from groundwater, surface water and ordinary watercourses in their areas. 2. Miscellaneous - this Part includes provisions on sustainable drainage, reservoirs, special administration, provision of infrastructure, temporary bans on non-essential uses of water, civil sanctions, incidental flooding or coastal erosion of land, flood resistant repairs to property, compulsory works orders, agreements on new drainage systems, concessionary surface water drainage charges for community groups, social tariffs for water charges, water and sewerage charges for non-owner occupiers and the abolition of the Fisheries Committee (Scotland). 3. General - this Part sets out various supplementary provisions which apply generally to the Act.

Plan/Programme Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk Level National Document date 2010 Summary of document Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25) sets out the Government's spatial planning policy on development and flood risk. This edition replaces the earlier version of PPS25 published on 7 December 2006. Tables D1 and D2 in Annex D have been revised to clarify the definition of functional floodplain, and to amend how the policy is applied to essential infrastructure, including water treatment works, emergency services facilities, installations requiring hazardous substances consent and wind turbines in flood risk areas. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The aims of planning policy on development and flood risk are to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and to direct development away from areas at highest risk. Where new development is, exceptionally, necessary in such areas, policy aims to make it safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere and where possible, reducing flood risk overall. Local planning authorities should prepare and implement planning strategies that help to deliver sustainable development by: • Appraising risk • Managing risk • Reducing risk • A partnership approach

Plan/Programme Underground, under threat – The state of groundwater in England and Wales Level National (Environment Agency) Document date Document is undated Summary of document The role of groundwater is a vitally important resource, providing one third of the water we drink and feeding many rivers and wetlands. This report, on the state of groundwater outlines the uses of groundwater as a water resource and then goes on to look at the risks to this resource from pollution and over exploitation. At the end of the report it discusses how we manage groundwater and the challenges that we face. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The report highlights two main threats to our groundwater resource: • Demand - If people take too much groundwater and levels become too low, they might not be able to rely so much on groundwater for their public water supply. Many rivers and wildlife that depend on groundwater might also be harmed or lost. • Pollution - groundwater is vulnerable to contamination and difficult to clean if contamination occurs. It is intimately linked to both surface water and soils, so substances can get into groundwater from either. The main issues affecting groundwater are: • Demand • Climate change • Diffuse pollution • Pesticides • Land use

Plan/Programme South West River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) Level Regional – Environment Agency Document date 2009 Summary of document This plan is about the pressures facing the water environment in the South West River Basin District and the actions that will address them. It has been prepared under the Water Framework Directive as a product of the first of a series of six-year planning cycles. There has been great progress in protecting the natural assets of the area and cleaning up many of the water environment problems people have created in the past. However, a range of challenges still remain, which will need to be addressed to secure the predicted improvements. They include: • diffuse pollution from agricultural activities; • diffuse and point source pollution from disused mines; • point source pollution from water industry sewage works; and • physical modification of water bodies. This Plan should be used as the evidence for why a Core Policy(s) to protect and improve the water environment should be included. The Water Framework Directive (implemented by the RBMPs) is becoming more of a priority for us all to consider, and will continue to do so for many years to come - it is very important this forms part of the evidence base for the Core Strategy. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Key targets are: • By 2015, 22% of surface waters (rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters) in this river basin district will improve for at least one element. • 42% of surface waters will be at good or better ecological status/potential and 57% of groundwater bodies will be at good status by 2015. • The biological parts of how the water environment is assessed – the plant and animal communities – are key indicators. At least 61% of assessed surface waters will be at good or better biological status by 2015.

Plan/Programme Thames River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) Level Regional – Environment Agency Document date 2009 Summary of document This plan is about the pressures facing the water environment in this river basin district and the actions that will address them. It has been prepared under the Water Framework Directive, and is the first of a series of six-year planning cycles. River basin management is a continuous process of planning and delivery. The Water Framework Directive introduces a formal series of six year cycles. The first cycle will end in 2015 when, following further planning and consultation, this plan will be updated and reissued. There has been considerable progress in protecting the natural assets of the Thames River Basin District. However, a range of challenges remain: • point source pollution from water industry sewage works • physical modification of water bodies • diffuse pollution from agricultural activities • abstraction • diffuse pollution from urban sources This Plan should be used as the evidence for why a Core Policy(s) to protect and improve the water environment should be included. The Water Framework Directive (implemented by the RBMPs) is becoming more of a priority for us all to consider, and will continue to do so for many years to come - it is very important this forms part of the evidence base for the Core Strategy.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Key targets are: • By 2015, 22% of surface waters (rivers, lakes estuaries and coastal waters) are going to improve for at least one biological, chemical or physical element. • 25% of surface waters will be at good or better ecological status and 17% of groundwater bodies will be at good overall status by 2015. In combination, 25% of all water bodies will be at good or better status by 2015. • The biological parts of how the water environment is assessed – the plant and animal communities – are key indicators. At least 30% of assessed surface waters will be at good or better biological quality by 2015.

Plan/Programme South East River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) Level Regional – Environment Agency Document date Summary of document This plan focuses on the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the water environment. River basin management is the approach the Environment Agency is using to ensure our combined efforts achieve the improvement needed in the South East River Basin District. River basin management is a continuous process of planning and delivery. The Water Framework Directive introduces a formal series of 6 year cycles. The first cycle will end in 2015 when, following further planning and consultation, this plan will be updated and reissued. There has been considerable progress in protecting the natural assets of the South East River Basin District. However, a range of challenges remain: • point source pollution from sewage treatment works • the physical modification of water bodies • diffuse pollution from agricultural activities • diffuse pollution from urban sources • water abstraction This Plan should be used as the evidence for why a Core Policy(s) to protect and improve the water environment should be included. The Water Framework Directive (implemented by the RBMPs) is becoming more of a priority for us all to consider, and will continue to do so for many years to come - it is very important this forms part of the evidence base for the Core Strategy. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Key targets are: By 2015, 18% of surface waters (rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters) are going to improve for at least one biological, chemical or physical element 23% of surface waters will be at good or better ecological status/potential and 33% of groundwater bodies will be at good status by 2015. In combination 23% of all water bodies will be at good status by 2015. The biological parts of how the water environment is assessed – the plant and animal communities – are key indicators. At least 47% of assessed surface waters will be at good or better biological status by 2015.

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Level 1 Level Local Document date June 2009 Summary of document Scott Wilson Ltd was commissioned in December 2008 to provide a high level executive summary for the commencement of Wiltshire Council. This summary draws together the information provided in the Level 1 SFRAs for the former district councils in Wiltshire.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The report summarises information on the application of the Sequential Test, a broad scale assessment of flood risk for potential strategic developments, flood risk management measures for consideration for new developments, recommendations for flood risk policy and site specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) guidance.

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Council Surface Water Management Plan focussed on Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury. Phase I & II Final Report Level Local Document date July 2011 Summary of document The principal output from a Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) is an outline of the preferred strategy for the coordinated management of surface water flood risk within a given location. In this instance, several key locations within the Wiltshire Council administrative area have been identified as the focus of the SWMP – Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge. Wiltshire has the potential for significant numbers of properties to be affected by surface water flooding. In addition historical records of flooding from surface water, groundwater and sewer sources highlight past issues. There are multiple and interlinked sources of flooding across the administrative area which require holistic management and solutions. It is evident that further understanding is required to address surface water flooding issues in Wiltshire at an appropriate level and where required. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions See section 4.2 for further details…

Plan/Programme Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) for Wiltshire Council Level Local Document date June 2011 Summary of document This report has been prepared by Wiltshire Council as part its requirements under the Flood Risk Regulations (2009) and to enable them to meet their duties in managing local flood risk. Wiltshire council is defined as the Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA) under the regulations. The PFRA provides a high level view of flood risk from local sources which include groundwater, surface water, ordinary watercourses and canals. Wiltshire has no significant flood risk areas as defined in accordance with the regulations and published guidance, and therefore the subsequent stages will not be required. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The objective of Wiltshire’s PFRA is to assess local flood risk across the study area, which is defined as being the administrative boundary of Wiltshire, and to consider historical and possible future consequences of flooding. The key objectives are: • Assessment of past floods. This involves consideration of past floods which have had harmful consequences for human health, economic activity or the environment. • Assessment of future floods. Consideration of the possible harmful effects of potential future flooding, taking into account topography, geology, watercourses, floodplains, population and economic centres. • Identification of ‘Flood Risk Areas’. The identification of FRA’s where there is considered to be those areas most significantly at risk of flooding nationally, taking into account the ‘indicative flood risk areas’ prepared by the Environment Agency. • Preliminary Assessment Report. The preparation of a report containing the above information which will be sent to the Environment Agency for review and publication.

4.2 Additional baseline information

4.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

4.2.2 Scientific evidence shows that climate change is likely to intensify the water cycle, reinforcing existing patterns of water scarcity and abundance. In the South West, we are set for wetter winters and drier summers, which will have significant implications for our water infrastructure.

Flood risk

4.2.3 The council has prepared a county-wide Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and this is being used as a tool to inform strategic and local planning decisions when allocating land for development or determining applications; the SFRA is also consulted when assessing significant effects through sustainability appraisal process. This SFRA can be viewed for further information at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/strategicfloodriskassessment.htm

4.2.4 The SFRA makes a series of policy recommendations to ensure a consistent approach to flood risk throughout the Wiltshire Council administrative area. Those relating to area specific strategies are as follows:

• In Chippenham, where deep and fast flood water flows can occur, opportunities to direct water away from areas of high social impact should be identified;

• In rural areas upstream of Malmesbury, Melksham and Chippenham opportunities should be sought to increase flood storage areas capacity, including an additional storage allowance for increases in flow accounting for climate change;

• Opportunities should be sought for strategic flood storage areas in close proximity to future development areas to be maintained by developer contribution for the lifetime of the development;

• In Bradford on Avon, where fluvial and surface water flooding can occur, opportunities to direct water away from areas of high social impact should be identified;

• In Warminster, opportunities should be sought to open culverted watercourses, where possible, to return them to a natural system. When opening up culverted watercourses consideration should be given to ensure flood risk is not exacerbated downstream;

• In the application of SuDS techniques it is recommended that priority is given to the use of surface water drainage techniques due to the generally permeable soils throughout Salisbury. Prior to implementing these techniques, each site should confirm that the use of infiltration drainage will not increase the risks of groundwater flooding.

Further work

4.2.5 The SFRA recommends further work as follows:

• Level 2 work is currently being undertaken for two specific sites within Salisbury, commissioned by SDC prior to the commencement of the unitary authority. The Environment Agency has also identified that the ‘west of Swindon growth area’ may require Level 2 work to consider other sources of flooding.

• The Level 2 requirements for the rest of the Wiltshire Council administrative area will not be understood until the LPA has undertaken the Sequential Test within each of the district administrative boundaries.

• However, to mitigate against the anticipated effects of climate change further information through additional hydraulic modelling may be required to inform potential flood alleviation options within existing urban areas of Chippenham, Salisbury and Malmesbury.

• Issues with surface water have been identified in Warminster, Bradford on Avon and Britford. Depending on development aspirations, these locations may benefit from a surface water management plan to reduce flooding from this source in the future. In addition, areas identified for regeneration provide opportunities for holistic consideration of surface water management through such plans.

4.2.6 The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) for Wiltshire demonstrates that there is sufficient land available in Flood Zone 1, the zone of least risk, to meet the Core Strategy proposed housing requirement of 37,000 new homes for the area.

Wiltshire Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP)

4.2.7 Several key locations within the administrative area of Wiltshire Council have been identified as the focus of the SWMP – Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury. Key outcomes/recommendations are highlighted below:

Chippenham

4.2.8 Historically, the majority of reported flooding issues within Chippenham have been linked with fluvial flooding from the River Avon. Surface water flooding combined with sewer exceedance has occurred within the High Street causing localised flooding of surrounding commercial properties. Key observations are as follows:

• A potential overland flow path has been identified within the Eastern Avenue area. This area is served by an existing public surface water sewer network but is likely to have localised flooding where sewer capacity is exceeded.

• Historically, the high street has experience flooding associated with surface water sewer exceedance. Pluvial modelling illustrates that this area will remain susceptible to surface water flooding and is likely to be exacerbated by high water levels within the River Avon.

• Potential development in the Hill Corner Road area may offer opportunities to reduce the surface water flood risk associated with a culverted watercourse to the south of the area.

• Potential developments in the Pewsham Way and Hardens Farm area are located in greenfield areas. These are not served by the public sewer system and flow paths associated with ordinary watercourses (ditches, mainly) are likely to convey water to the River Avon. Surface water management should be considered during the masterplanning phases to direct development away from potential flow routes and to provide green open space.

Trowbridge

4.2.9 Historically, the majority of reported flooding issues within Trowbridge have been linked with fluvial flooding from the River Biss. Surface water flooding incidents have been limited, with no significant issues identified. Key observations are as follows:

• A potential overland flow path has been identified within the Timbrell Street area. This area is served by an existing public surface water sewer network but is likely to have localised flooding where sewer capacity is exceeded.

• Potential surface water and sewer exceedance issues were identified by the pluvial modelling in the Green Lane Area and Bramley Lane Area.

• Potential flood risk issues associated with the Drynham Brook ordinary watercourse were identified by the pluvial modelling.

• Potential development in the east of Trowbridge in the Green Lane area is not considered to be constrained by surface water flooding issues.

• Potential development in the south east of Trowbridge is in predominantly greenfield areas. These are not served by the public sewer system and flow paths associated with ordinary watercourses (ditches mainly) are likely to convey water to the River Biss. Surface water management should be considered during the masterplanning phases to direct development away from potential flow routes and provide green open space.

Salisbury

4.2.10 Historically, the majority of reported flooding issues within Salisbury and the surrounding area have been linked with fluvial flooding from the River Avon (Hampshire), River Nadder and River Bourne. However, due to the nature of the underlying bedrock, base flows within these rivers are inherently linked with groundwater levels. During wet periods, surface water infiltration into the underlying aquifer causes groundwater levels to rise causing increases in base flow within river channels. These cause longer duration flood events that are a combination of groundwater and fluvial flows. Key observations are as follows:

• Potential overland flow paths have been identified within the Bermaton and Laverstock areas. These areas are served by an existing public surface water sewer network but are likely to have localised flooding where sewer capacity is exceeded and depressions within the flow path exist.

• Potential surface water and exceedance of ordinary watercourses were identified by the pluvial modelling in the Britford Area.

• Flooding issues are identified in the city centre area, historical flood incidents have been noted in this location (in particular the cathedral area) and are likely to be from a combination of sources including fluvial, surface water sewer exceedance, surface water ponding and groundwater levels.

• Potential flood risk issues associated with overland flows, ordinary watercourses and the interaction with the underlying groundwater levels and River Nadder in the Netherhampton area.

• Potential flood risk issues associated with overland flows/ordinary watercourses in the Old Sarum area.

Water supply and demand

4.2.11 Using comparisons between supply and demand forecasts, Wessex Water has identified that there is the potential for deficits in water supply to occur in Wiltshire as a result of decreases in abstractions to protect sensitive watercourses such as the Hampshire Avon, as a result of climate change and as a result of population growth. Development of an integrated water supply grid is now in the initial stages of development and is expected to provide part of a long-term solution to the challenge of climate change, alongside leakage reduction and water efficiency.

Water infrastructure

4.2.12 The impacts of climate change are likely to significantly affect waste water treatment infrastructure as well. Wessex Water expects to see more frequent damage to pipe work as soils dry out and shrink. The sewerage network is likely to come under greater pressure from more intense rainfall, which could lead to sewer flooding and spills from combined sewer overflows. More prolonged periods of dry weather could mean that treated effluent from sewage treatment works returned to rivers constitutes a higher proportion of the flow in these rivers and streams, whilst hotter weather could lead to an increase in complaints from residents concerning odour from sewage works.

4.2.13 Further information concerning climate impacts can be found in Topic Paper 1: Climate Change that provides an evidence base for Core Strategy policy. http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wcsconsult2011.htm

Water quality and phosphate levels

4.2.14 The River Avon SAC and ground water sources are particularly vulnerable to the effects of diffuse and point source pollution. The Draft Core Strategy identifies the need for the use of sustainable drainage (SUDS) and water conservation measures in relation to the River Avon SAC.

4.2.15 A specific issue considered in the initial HRA of the Core Strategy was the potential for likely significant effects upon the River Avon SAC through elevated phosphate levels from additional sewage discharges in the catchment. However, following the completion of significant upgrades to the sewage treatment infrastructure last year, the Environment Agency has concluded that sewage discharges projected by the

Core Strategy will be compliant with the Habitats Regulations provided that a Nutrient Management Plan is put in place to bring down phosphate levels.

4.2.16 The Environment Agency and Natural England are currently working on the Nutrient Management Plan. The plan will identify works that are required to reduce river phosphate levels and the funding required for these. At that stage it will be appropriate for Wiltshire Council to consider whether it is appropriate for development to contribute to the implementation of the plan. If the Nutrient Management Plan identifies a need for developer contributions to deliver the necessary phosphate reductions, the Core Strategy (or other DPD/SPD) will need to consider this.

Nitrogen enrichment

4.2.17 Nitrogen enrichment of surface waters and groundwater is already regarded as a problem in a number of areas. Wiltshire’s chalk streams are internationally important for biodiversity, but currently suffer from a number of interacting factors that are having negative impacts.

Groundwater protection

4.2.18 We need to manage and protect our groundwater resources from pollution if we are to continue to have sustainable supplies in the future. We also need to protect aquatic environments and ecosystems that depend on groundwater. Groundwater supplies about one third of mains drinking water in England as well as supporting numerous private supplies, but pollution and demands for water puts the resource under pressure. Groundwater also has many benefits, including to:

• society - by providing water that needs little treatment before it can be drunk • the economy - groundwater reserves are worth an estimated £8 billion • the environment - all rivers are partly fed by groundwater. Some rivers and wetlands are completely dependent on it.

4.2.19 There are two key risks to groundwater, these are:

• pollution - groundwater is vulnerable to contamination and is difficult to clean. Nitrate, pesticides, solvents and other chemicals can get into groundwater from both surface water and soils. • demand - over use of groundwater depletes the public water supply, so we might not be able to rely on it in the future. Many rivers and wildlife also depend heavily on groundwater and may be harmed, or lost, if groundwater levels become too low. 35% of groundwater bodies are classified as at ‘poor quantitative status’ under the EU Water Framework Directive because of abstraction pressures.

4.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

4.3.1 Water demand is increasing, and climate change may further increase this demand. The Core Strategy considers provision of necessary water infrastructure to cope with anticipated population growth. Without the Core Strategy, this infrastructure may not be adequate to cope with future water scarcity issues. However, with the expected

improvements to Building Regulations, the water efficiency of new dwellings is likely to improve over the next 5 years.

4.3.2 Risk of flooding is likely to be greater if development takes place in unsuitable locations. The Core Strategy is promoting strategic sites for development which have been subject to sustainability appraisal, where flood risk has been assessed and these sites are thought to be the most sustainable locations.

4.4 Review of key sustainability issues

4.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to water resources and flood risk which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework, and that were not identified in the original topic paper, include:

• Water quality and phosphate levels - likely effects upon the River Avon SAC through elevated phosphate levels from additional sewage discharges in the catchment (see section 4.2 above)

• Water infrastructure - the impacts of climate change are likely to significantly affect water infrastructure (see section 4.2 above)

• Risk of flooding in certain areas – refer to plans/programmes detailed in section 4.1

• Continuing risks to groundwater throughout Wiltshire from water demand and pollution

4.5 Sustainability objectives

4.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – two of which relate to water resources and flood risk. The current objectives are:

• Use and manage water resources in a sustainable manner • Protect people and property from the risk of flooding

4.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objectives.

5 Topic 4: Air quality and environmental pollution

5.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

5.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire (Wiltshire Council, January 2010) • 2011 Air Quality Progress Report (Wiltshire Council, April, 2011) • Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2010

Plan/Programme Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire Level Local Document date January 2010 Summary of document Local authorities have a duty under the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess local air quality within their areas, against a set of health-based objectives for a number of specific air pollutants. The purpose of this Air Quality Strategy is to support the achievement of the air quality objectives and to raise air quality as an issue for consideration within a wide range of local government and regional planning frameworks. Consideration of air quality objectives will hopefully help reduce the risk of the most serious health effects related to pollution. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The strategy will seek to: • Promote greater consistency across a range of policy areas for the achievement of improved local air quality, including local spatial planning, transport planning, health, industry, housing and environmental protection, and to ensure air quality is addressed in a multi-disciplinary way within the different departments of Wiltshire Council; • Provide the framework for a consistent approach to addressing local air quality considerations in spatial planning and development control processes; • Provide a baseline framework for developing a coherent air quality policy across Wiltshire with particular reference to spatial and transport planning, and the proposed Local Development Framework, Core Strategy and third Local Transport Plan; • Provide a link to wider initiatives across the authority (for example climate change programmes, community initiatives and energy efficiency programmes). • Build on existing practice.

Plan/Programme 2011 Air Quality Progress Report Level Local Document date April 2011 Summary of document This document summarises the current situation relating to the quality of the air in Wiltshire. It summarises all the air quality monitoring carried out by the council across the county. The report concludes that Detailed Assessments will have to be undertaken for locations in Calne and further streets around the centre of Devizes - these are areas that have been identified as a result of the review of monitoring locations at the end of 2009.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The air quality objectives applicable to Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) in England include benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particles and sulphur dioxide. Monitoring undertaken in 2010 has showed that all AQMAs in Wiltshire should remain as results are above the air quality objective. Detailed Assessment will be required for new Road and Curzon Street in Calne and Melbourne Place, The Nursery, Wadworth’s, Northgate Street, Roses Ironmongers, Estcourt Street, Chantry Court new Park Street and St James Place, Devizes (not within the current AQMA).

5.2 Additional baseline information

5.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Air quality review and assessment

5.2.2 Prior to 1st April 2009 the District Councils (North Wiltshire, West Wiltshire, Kennet and Salisbury) in Wiltshire independently monitored pollutants in their areas. This is now carried out by Wiltshire Council. In general, air quality is very good in the vast majority of areas; however the air quality reports highlight several areas where air quality objectives are being breached and some areas there is the potential for air quality problems and serves as a reminder that continued vigilance needs to be maintained.

Air Quality Management Areas

5.2.3 Air quality monitoring is undertaken across Wiltshire for a number of pollutants, but in the main for nitrogen dioxide. Where exceedences of the air quality objectives are identified the Council is legally obliged to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for each affected area. Prior to Wiltshire Council being formed, West Wiltshire District Council declared two air quality management areas following consultation with the general public and then approval by West Wiltshire District Council Cabinet. These were created on the 26 November 2001. The AQMAs were declared due to exceedences in nitrogen dioxide. Salisbury District Council also had the need to declare three AQMAs due to exceedences in nitrogen dioxide. AQMAs in Wiltshire are as follows:

• Westbury - the AQMA covers part of Haynes Road and Warminster Road

• Bradford-on-Avon - the AQMA covers Market Street, Silver Street, Masons Lane and part of St Margaret’s Street

•Salisbury - Salisbury District Council has also had to declare AQMAs and currently there are 3 AQMAs declared. The AQMAs cover the whole city centre and part of the Wilton Road (A36) and the London Road (A30).

• Devizes – Shanes Castle

• Marlborough – Herd Street and Barn Street

2011 Air Quality Progress Report for Wiltshire Council

5.2.4 This document summarises the current situation relating to the quality of the air in Wiltshire; it summarises all the air quality monitoring carried out by the council across the county. A brief summary of the main recommendations is given below. For further information please see the whole range of air quality reports at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/airquality.htm

Conclusions and proposed actions

5.2.5 Monitoring undertaken in 2010 has showed that all AQMAs in Wiltshire should remain as results are above the air quality objective. This applies to Salisbury, Westbury, Bradford on Avon and Devizes. Detailed Assessment will be required for new Road and Curzon Street in Calne and Melbourne Place, The Nursery, Wadworths, Northgate Street, Roses Ironmongers, Estcourt Street, Chantry Court new Park Street and St James Place, Devizes (not within the current AQMA).

• Marlborough - an AQMA was declared in Marlborough in February 2011 and as a result a detailed assessment has been submitted to DEFRA. Additional nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube sites have been added to the monitoring network in the town to identify the extent of the nitrogen dioxide failures.

• Devizes - the Devizes AQMA was declared in March 2010 (for exceedences of nitrogen dioxide). A Detailed Assessment has been submitted to DEFRA and consultation on proposed options for the Action Plan will be conducted this summer.

Further assessment for Devizes is now underway. Following the submission of a 2011 Progress Report a detailed assessment will be undertaken of the other streets in Devizes showing an exceedence of the annual average objective for nitrogen dioxide.

• Wilton - the detailed assessment (for exceedences of nitrogen dioxide) has been completed and submitted to DEFRA. There is no need to proceed to an AQMA declaration at this time.

• Calne - a detailed assessment will be undertaken for Curzon Street and New Road in Calne following the submission of the 2011 Progress Report. Additional diffusion tube monitoring sites have already been put up to try and better identify the extent of the nitrogen dioxide failures.

Existing AQMAs - monitoring in existing AQMAs has not identified the need to change boundaries or revoke any AQMAs.

Detailed assessments

5.2.6 A number of detailed assessments have been carried out for certain locations; detailed assessments form part of the statutory duties surrounding the process of Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) and aim to identify whether air quality objectives are likely to be exceeded at relevant locations and the requirement to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in these areas. These detailed assessments can be viewed at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/airqualityreportsandsummaries.htm

Detailed assessment – Shanes Castle, Devizes – February 2010

5.2.7 This detailed assessment considers the air quality in the immediate vicinity of Shanes Castle in Devizes. Monitoring of the air quality in the vicinity of Shanes Castle was extended following the progress report completed by Kennet District Council in April 2007 which had indicated that NO2 levels at Shanes Castle were likely to cause an exceedence of the annual mean air quality objective for NO2, a mean annual concentration of 40μg/m3. Recommendations are as follows:

• On the basis of the results set out in this Detailed Assessment, Wiltshire Council should consider declaring an AQMA in relation to the exceedences of the annual mean AQO for nitrogen dioxide.

• The zone of exceedence should remain as defined in Figure 3.2 until the opportunity to run dispersion modelling based upon the more robust monitoring data has been completed as part of a further assessment.

• That the AQMA should be declared to cover the known area of exceedance in the immediate vicinity of Shanes Castle, at the junction of the A361 and the A342 in Devizes.

• A detailed traffic survey will be required in order to determine factors such as the diurnal profile of vehicles, the fleet mix and queue lengths. This will ensure that future

uncertainty in modelling assessments can be reduced. The information will also help in the formation of an action plan to reduce emissions and move towards attainment of the annual mean AQO for nitrogen dioxide.

5.2.8 It is proposed to declare an AQMA to cover the known area of exceedance as discussed. It is proposed to locate the eastern boundary at the entrance to the Wiltshire Council offices at Browfort where the road widens as no potential relevant exposure is located in this area. The proposed AQMA will thus incorporate just the one property, Shanes Castle. The AQMA will also incorporate the junction of the A361, Bath Road, and the A342, Dunkirk Hill.

Detailed assessment – Wilton – March 2010

5.2.9 This Detailed Assessment considers the air quality in the immediate vicinity of Queen Street, Wilton. The report has been produced as a consequence of the 2009 Updating and Screening Assessment for Wiltshire which indicated a possible exceedence of the Air Quality Standard for Nitrogen Dioxide at a relevant location. It is focussed in Wilton on an area originally declared as an AQMQ by Salisbury District Council in 2003.

Recommendations:

• On the basis of the results set out Wiltshire Council need not take further formal action in the Wilton study area as no exceedences of the annual mean air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide have been identified.

• Monitoring of the air quality in Wilton will continue as normal.

Detailed assessment – Herd Street, Marlborough – August 2010

5.2.10 This detailed assessment considers the air quality in the immediate vicinity of Herd Street, the A346 in Marlborough. It develops the conclusions reached in the Progress Report submitted by the former Kennet District Council in April 2008, which indicated the likelihood of a possible exceedence at a relevant location. This was reinforced in the 2009 Updating and Screening.

5.2.11 The monitoring results indicate that an exceedence of the UK Air Quality Standard for annual mean levels of Nitrogen Dioxide is occurring in Herd Street and Barn Street. Recommendations are as follows:

• On the basis of the results set out in this Detailed Assessment, Wiltshire Council should consider declaring an AQMA in relation to the exceedences of the annual mean AQO for nitrogen dioxide.

• The extent of the proposed AQMA is to be confirmed following consultation with the Marlborough Area Board and other relevant consultees.

• The zone of exceedence should remain as defined in Figure 3.1 until the opportunity to run dispersion modelling based upon the more robust monitoring data has been completed as part of a further assessment.

• A detailed traffic survey will be required in order to determine factors such as the diurnal profile of vehicles and the fleet mix, to include HGV levels. This will ensure that future uncertainty in modelling assessments can be reduced. The information will also help in the formation of an action plan to reduce emissions and move towards attainment of the annual mean AQO for nitrogen dioxide.

Wiltshire Core Strategy – Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) June 2011

5.2.12 The Core Strategy does not have a specific policy in relation to air quality. The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges identifies 200m as the distance beyond which the contribution of traffic emissions to local pollutant concentrations is considered to be negligible.

5.2.13 The HRA Report has identified five Natura 2000 sites as being potentially sensitive to an increase in air pollution from transport. The location of the five sites was considered in terms of their proximity to main roads which are predicted to experience a change in traffic flow and composition, based on the 200m threshold. Natura 2000 or Ramsar sites that were identified as being within 200m of main roads are:

• Cotswolds Beechwood SAC; • Rodborough Common SAC; • Salisbury Plain SAC and SPA; and • River Avon SAC.

5.2.14 The South West RSS HRA stated that there is a need to avoid and where necessary reduce the impacts of air quality problems arising from development on biodiversity, and in particular on Natura 2000 and Ramsar sites. In the supporting text, Local Development Documents and local transport plans should be required to take into account through HRA the potential effects on air quality arising from housing, airport and port development proposals, including from traffic generated by them, and in particular transport-related schemes, which could adversely affect Natura 2000 and Ramsar sites.

5.2.15 The HRA recommends that the traffic modelling, undertaken as part of the Core Strategy process to inform infrastructure requirements, should also model emissions to air; this will help provide an evidence base for the HRA and Core Strategy. It also recommends that the Core Strategy includes a specific policy requiring major developments to specifically consider the potential for effects on European sites associated with transport related emissions to air and point source pollution from relevant processes.

5.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

5.3.1 In Wiltshire, issues regarding declining air quality are often linked with traffic increases and congestion, particularly in town centres, with a number of designated Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). Air quality is likely to continue to decline in some areas without policies that promote development of sustainable transport links and that promote housing development in sustainable locations that reduce the need to travel.

5.3.2 Issues such as noise and light pollution (including tranquillity concerns) and other forms of pollution are largely caused by urban development. The amount of development may not necessarily be any greater without Core Strategy implementation, but development pressure is more likely to take place in less sustainable locations, leading to increases in environmental pollution.

5.4 Review of key sustainability issues

5.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to air quality and environmental pollution, identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework, are as follows:

• Specific air quality issues have been identified in Devizes and Marlborough, related to traffic and congestion, and AQMAs have been designated in these towns. These issues, and issues related to poor air quality in other areas will need to be taken account of in the sustainability appraisal.

• The HRA Report has identified five Natura 2000 sites as being potentially sensitive to an increase in air pollution from transport. The HRA recommends that traffic modelling, undertaken as part of the Core Strategy process to inform infrastructure requirements, should also model emissions to air; and that the Core Strategy includes a specific policy requiring major developments to specifically consider the potential for effects on European sites associated with transport related emissions to air and point source pollution from relevant processes.

5.5 Sustainability objectives

5.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to this topic. The current objective is:

• ‘Improve air quality throughout Wiltshire and minimise all sources of environmental pollution’.

5.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objective.

6 Topic 5: Climatic factors

6.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

6.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Energy, Change and Opportunity Strategy (Wiltshire Council, 2011) • Wiltshire Sustainable Energy Planning Study (Camco, 2011)

Plan/Programme Energy, Change and Opportunity Strategy (2011-2020) Level Local Document date 2011 Summary of document This strategy sets out how Wiltshire as a council and a community can act on climate change. It is a framework document that will be linked to related council strategies (including the Core Strategy) to ensure objectives are embedded across the entire organisation. It will be supplemented by detailed action plans to set out more specifically how we are going to deliver our climate change ambitions. These will allow detailed targets to be developed, specific actions to allow the targets to be met and also outline a suitable monitoring framework. As this is the first time that a climate change strategy has been prepared, it is expected that the strategy will be reviewed and refined as further work is carried out on the action plans. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The scope of the draft strategy includes services and those aspects of Wiltshire life that the council can influence, for example planning, transport, flood management and community engagement. This strategy sets out where we are now, where we want to get to and the general approach for how we are going to get there. The following four action plans will be produced during 2011/2012: • Carbon Management Plan for the council’s emissions • Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Wiltshire • Low Carbon Transition Plan for Wiltshire • Renewable Energy Action Plan for Wiltshire. The council’s climate change board will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the strategy and its action plans. The board comprises service directors from across the organisation and is chaired by the portfolio holder member for the environment and is accountable to cabinet.

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Sustainable Energy Planning Study Level Local Document date January 2011 Summary of document The Wiltshire Sustainable Energy Study, published in January 2011, has been prepared by consultants Camco for Wiltshire Council. It forms part of the evidence base for the Wiltshire Core Strategy, specifically addressing the requirements of PPS 1, which expects new development to be planned to make good use of opportunities for decentralised and renewable or low-carbon energy. The study assesses the capacity for supplying the new development in Wiltshire with low carbon energy, and considers appropriate 'carbon standards' for the Core Strategy and subsequent Local Development Framework (LDF) documents.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The study:

• Assesses the characteristics of the housing growth plans for the area; • Assesses the resource potential for renewable energy generation within Wiltshire and relates this to the energy demand of the housing growth proposals; • Provides indicative energy supply strategies that help inform potential carbon standards for new development; • Outlines potential carbon standards for new development and the viability of new standards; • Specifies suitable low carbon solutions and requirements for different development types; • Outlines the policy options for supporting low to zero carbon development within the county.

6.2 Additional baseline information

6.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Current policy and regulatory framework

6.2.2 A comprehensive review of international, national, regional and local policies, strategies and regulations has been undertaken to inform policy development for the Wiltshire Core Strategy relating to climate change. In the UK, two national policy drivers are particularly important. These are the Climate Change Act (2008)8, which sets a legally binding target to reduce carbon (an important GHG) emissions by at least 34 % by 2020 and the UK Renewable Energy Strategy (2009)9, which states that 15 % of the energy we use should be derived from renewable sources by 2020 (within this target 30 % of electricity should be derived from renewables and 12 % of heat).

6.2.3 A strong framework of policy drivers is also in place in Wiltshire relating to climate change including: People, Places and Priorities: Wiltshire Community Plan 2011 – 201610; this includes a specific objective on climate change which is to: ‘Significantly reduce domestic, business and transport CO2 emissions across the county in line with national targets’. However, a review of the existing planning policy framework in Wiltshire and consultation with council Development Management Officers reveals that this framework has failed to achieve the step change required to meet national and local targets. It is clear that this policy framework is not fit for purpose and is out of date.

Climate change adaptation

6.2.4 Research has been undertaken to inform the preparation of a Wiltshire Council Climate Change Adaptation Plan11. It has been predicted, for example, that annual

8 Climate Change Act (HM Government, 2008) 9 UK Renewable Energy Strategy (Department for Energy and Climate Change, 2009). 10 People, Places and Priorities: Wiltshire Community Plan 2011 – 2016 (Wiltshire Council, 2011) 11 Wiltshire climate change adaptation plan: Level 1 report (Wiltshire Council, 2010).

mean temperature in Wiltshire will rise by between 1.2 and 1.70C by the 2020’s (2010 to 2039) and by 3.1 and 4.10C by the 2080s (2070 to 2099); this is based on the medium emissions scenario developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and uses the United Kingdom Climate Projections 09 (UKCP09) tool developed by the Met Office Hadley Centre.

6.2.5 A review of best practice reveals four areas where planning policy can influence resilience to climate change, which are:

• Managing high temperatures • Managing flood risk • Managing water resource and water quality • Managing ground conditions.

Climate change mitigation

6.2.6 A number of key issues highlight the need for Wiltshire to reduce carbon emissions and deliver an increased level of renewable energy. These include:

• Wiltshire’s per capita carbon emissions are greater than for either the South West or for the UK12. In the period from 2005 to 2007 the emissions in Wiltshire went up (by approximately 3.1 %) whereas for the South West overall they went down (by approximately 2.1 %);

• 14,700 owner occupied and 5,600 private rented properties in Wiltshire are living in fuel poverty13

• The target amount of renewable energy to be installed in Wiltshire (including the administrative area of Swindon Borough Council) by 2010 was for 65 to 85 Mega Watts (MW). The actual amount of renewable energy installed in this area in 2010 was 15.30 MW14

• By far the largest component (94 %) of existing renewable energy capacity in Wiltshire is derived from landfill gas which will reduce in the future as the amount of waste sent to landfill is reduced

• Wiltshire contributes the second lowest level of renewable electricity of all authority areas in the South West (8.9 %) and makes the lowest contribution of renewable heat (4 %)15

6.2.7 The Wiltshire Sustainable Energy Planning Study assessed the potential for a range of renewable energy technologies across Wiltshire including large scale technologies such as wind, biomass, hydro and solar arrays. The Study concluded that there is potential for almost 30 % of the projected electricity demand in 2020 and over 9 % of the projected heat demand in 2020, to be derived from renewables in Wiltshire. The report suggests that an installed capacity of almost 367 MW would be needed to meet this level of electricity to be supplied from renewable.

12 Local and regional CO2 emissions estimates for 2005 - 2008 – Full dataset (DECC, 2010) 13 Wiltshire Private Sector House Conditions Survey (Wiltshire Council, 2009) 14 Renewable electricity and heat projects in South West England (REGEN SW, 2010) 15 Renewable electricity and heat projects in South West England (REGEN SW, 2010)

Comparison between the installed capacity of renewable electricity in Wiltshire and Swindon in 2010, with the installed capacity for renewable electricity needed in Wiltshire in 2020, to deliver almost 30 % of the projected electricity demand, in line with targets set out in the UK Renewable Energy Strategy (2009).

Installed renewable electricity capacity (MW) in Wiltshire and Swindon in January 2010, by administrative area, and technology type16

Authority Advanced Hydro Landfill Onshore Sewage Solar Area Treatment Gas Wind Gas PV Total of Waste Swindon 0 0 4.35 0.01 0.45 0.10 4.90 Wiltshire 0 0.08 10.02 0.01 0.17 0.12 10.39 Total 0 0.08 14.37 0.02 0.62 0.22 15.30

16 Renewable electricity and heat projects in South West England (REGEN SW, 2010)

Installed capacity of renewable electricity by administrative area in the South West in January 201017.

Potential Trowbridge district energy/ heat network

6.2.8 A specific opportunity has been identified in Trowbridge for delivering a district energy/ heat network. Three factors make this proposal especially attractive, which are:

• A programme to substantially re-model County Hall, one of the main Wiltshire Council offices located close to the centre of Trowbridge is commencing in 2011

• A new leisure campus may be developed on council owned land close to County Hall (this could provide an ‘anchor’ heat customer)

• A number of sites have been identified through the Trowbridge Scoping and Vision Study (2010) which may be suitable for redevelopment. Connecting these sites to an energy/ heat network in Trowbridge may help to improve the overall viability of a scheme.

17 Renewable electricity and heat projects in South West England (REGEN SW, 2010)

Key indicator table

Wiltshire South West England Installed renewable electricity 10.4MW Average Not available capacity 24.5MW Installed renewable heat 2.3MW Average 9MW Not available capacity 2007 Energy Consumption in 14,419.7 GWh Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire 37% commercial consumed consumes 0.6% and industrial, 11.3% of energy of UK energy 28% domestic consumed in the 35% transport South West Per capita CO2 emissions in 2005 - 8.5(t) 2005 - 7.4(t) 2005 - 7.2(t) Wiltshire 2006 - 8.5(t) 2006 - 7.3(t) 2006 - 7.1(t) (NI 186) 2007 - 8.3(t) 2007 - 7.0(t) 2007 - 6.9(t) 2008 - 8.0(t) 2008 - 6.8(t) 2008 - 6.8(t) Source: Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011

6.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

6.3.1 Wiltshire’s contribution towards greenhouse gas emissions is most likely to come mainly from energy use in the home and transport. The Core Strategy promotes levels of energy efficiency in line with national policy, provision of sustainable transport modes, residential development in locations that reduces the need to travel and promotes renewable energy and other forms of low/zero carbon energy generation. Our impacts on climate change are likely to be higher without these policies.

6.3.2 Reliance on existing local plan policies is also likely to leave us more exposed to the effects of climate change, such as water shortages and flood risk. Core Strategy policies concerning infrastructure provision, promotion of sustainable drainage systems and GI will increase our ability to adapt to future, unpredictable climate effects.

6.4 Review of key sustainability issues

6.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to climatic factors which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• A review of the existing planning policy framework in Wiltshire and consultation with council Development Management Officers reveals that this framework has failed to achieve the step change required to meet national and local targets. It is clear that this policy framework is not fit for purpose and is out of date.

• Wiltshire’s per capita emissions are greater than for the South West and for the UK (Figure 4.2). In the 2005 to 2007 period the emissions in Wiltshire went up (by approximately 3%) whereas for the South West overall, they went

down (by approximately 2%). It is therefore clear that Wiltshire is lagging behind many other authority areas for cutting its carbon emissions18.

• Climate change adaptation – minimising vulnerability to climate change impacts will be very important. There are four main areas planning policies can address to help deal with climate change adaptation:

• Managing high temperatures • Managing flood risk • Managing water resources and water quality • Managing ground conditions

• Fuel poverty - The Wiltshire Private Sector House Conditions Survey 200919 states that 14,700 owner occupied and 5,700 private rented properties, are living in fuel poverty in Wiltshire. A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it is required to spend more than 10 % of its income on domestic fuel use to maintain a satisfactory heating regime. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and increasing the provision of renewable energy could help to reduce fuel poverty.

6.5 Sustainability objectives

6.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to this topic. The current objective is:

• ‘Minimise our impacts on climate change and reduce our vulnerability to future climate change effects’.

6.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objective.

18 Draft Energy Change and Opportunity Strategy 2011 – 2020 (Wiltshire Council, 2010) 19 Wiltshire Private Sector House Conditions Survey (Wiltshire Council, 2009)

7 Topic 6: Historic environment

7.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

7.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• PPS5: Planning for the Historic Environment (DCLG, 2010) • Heritage at risk register: South West (English Heritage, 2011) • Circular 07/09: Protection of World Heritage Sites (DCLG, 2009) • Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Property Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (DCMS, 2011)

Plan/Programme PPS5: Planning for the Historic Environment Level National Document date March 2010 Summary of document PPS5 sets out the Government's planning policies on the conservation of the historic environment. The value of the historic environment, and the contribution it makes to cultural, social and economic life, is set out in the Government’s Statement on the Historic Environment for England 2010. Planning has a central role to play in conserving our heritage assets and utilising the historic environment in creating sustainable places. This PPS comprises policies that will enable the Government’s vision for the historic environment as set out in the 2010 Statement to be implemented through the planning system, where appropriate.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The Government’s overarching aim is that the historic environment and its heritage assets should be conserved and enjoyed for the quality of life they bring to this and future generations. Objectives for the historic environment are: • To deliver sustainable development by ensuring that policies and decisions concerning the historic environment: –– recognise that heritage assets are a non-renewable resource –– take account of the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits of heritage conservation; and –– recognise that intelligently managed change may sometimes be necessary if heritage assets are to be maintained for the long term. • To conserve England’s heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance by ensuring that: –– decisions are based on the nature, extent and level of that significance, investigated to a degree proportionate to the importance of the heritage asset –– wherever possible, heritage assets are put to an appropriate and viable use that is consistent with their conservation –– the positive contribution of such heritage assets to local character and sense of place is recognised and valued; and –– consideration of the historic environment is integrated into planning policies, promoting place-shaping. • To contribute to our knowledge and understanding of our past by ensuring that opportunities are taken to capture evidence from the historic environment and to make this publicly available, particularly where a heritage asset is to be lost. The Wiltshire Core Strategy should set out a positive, proactive strategy for the conservation20 and enjoyment of the historic environment – the critical issue, and address the following matters: • the historic environments influence on the character of the environment and an area’s sense of place; • the historic environments potential to be a catalyst for regeneration, in particular through leisure, tourism and economic development; • the role of the historic environment in stimulating and inspiring new development of imagination and high quality; • how the re-use of existing fabric, minimising waste will be promoted; and • how sustainable mixed and flexible patterns of land use can be secured.

Plan/Programme Heritage at risk register: South West (English Heritage) Level Regional – South West Document date 2011 Summary of document This document identifies which of this country’s most important grade I and II* listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields, protected wreck sites, conservation areas and industrial archaeology is threatened by development pressures, neglect or decay. The Heritage at Risk Register also monitors the changing condition of assets to help us prioritise where our resources and expertise can best be deployed. See section 7.2 for further details. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions English Heritage is committed to securing a year-on-year reduction in the number of heritage sites at risk. There are some general approaches that are relevant to all assets at risk. Resolving cases requires working in close partnership with owners, local planning authorities and other relevant organisations and partners. Maintenance of heritage assets is essential if they are not to become ‘at risk’, and to prevent those that are already at risk from decaying further and thereby escalating the cost of their repair and consolidation. Avoiding vacancy through short-term lets or schemes that provide protection through residential occupation are low-cost ways of maintaining buildings until permanent solutions can be found.

20 Conservation. The process of maintaining and managing change to a heritage asset in a way that sustains and where appropriate enhances its significance.

Plan/Programme Circular 07/09: Protection of World Heritage Sites Level National (DCLG) Document date 2009 Summary of document The circular sets out the roles and responsibilities of local planning authorities in protecting, promoting, interpreting, sustainably using and conserving World Heritage Sites and their OUV and settings. It fulfils the commitment in the white paper Heritage Protection for the 21st Century, published in March 2007, to issue a planning circular “which will further recognise in national policy the need to protect World Heritage Sites as sites of Outstanding Universal Value”. The circular explains the national context and the Government’s objectives for the protection of World Heritage Sites, the principles which underpin those objectives, and the actions necessary to achieve them. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The outstanding universal value of a World Heritage Site indicates its importance as a key material consideration to be taken into account by the relevant authorities in determining planning and related applications and by the Secretary of State in determining cases on appeal or following call in. It is therefore essential that policy frameworks at all levels recognise the need to protect the outstanding universal value of World Heritage Sites. The main objective should be the protection of each World Heritage Site through conservation and preservation of its outstanding universal value. The most appropriate way of meeting the UK’s obligations to protect, manage, present and transmit to future generations the World Heritage Sites on its territory is through the inclusion of appropriate policies in planning documents including core strategies and through the development of management plans.

Plan/Programme Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Property Statement of Outstanding Universal Value Level Local Document date 2011 Summary of document All World Heritage Sites are now required by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO to have Statements of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in place by 2012. Statements of Outstanding Universal Value are made up of several elements - brief description, Statement of Significance, Statement of Authenticity, Statement of Integrity and a section describing how the World Heritage Site (WHS) is protected and managed. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Statements of Outstanding Universal Value are key references for the effective protection and management of World Heritage Sites and the main objective should be the protection of each WHS through conservation and preservation of its OUV. The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Property is internationally important for its complexes of outstanding prehistoric monuments. The setting of some key monuments extends beyond the boundary. Provision of buffer zones should be considered to protect the setting of individual monuments and the overall setting of the World Heritage Property. At a local level, the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Property is protected by the legal designation of all its key monuments. There is a specific policy in the Local Development Framework to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the Property from inappropriate development, along with adequate references in relevant strategies and plans at all levels. The Local Planning Authority is responsible for continued protection through policy development and its effective implementation in deciding planning applications with the management plans for Stonehenge and Avebury as a key material consideration.

7.1.2 In addition to the plans, programmes, policies and sustainability objectives summarised above, English Heritage have requested that the following information

be taken into account in this section; a number of the following documents are included in the Scoping Report published in 2010:

UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972)

7.1.3 This aims to: define cultural and natural heritage; recognise protection and conservation; understand the value; and establish 'the World Heritage fund'. The protection and enhancement of cultural heritage assets and their settings should be a key consideration for the Wiltshire Core Strategy as a consequence.

Council of Europe: European Landscape Convention (2006)

7.1.4 This aims to promote the protection, management and planning (including active design and creation of Europe's landscapes, both rural and urban, and to foster European co-operation on landscape issues. The Wiltshire Core Strategy should therefore support a positive strategy for the historic environment which protects, and where appropriate, improves the landscape character of Wiltshire. This should include augmenting historic landscapes.

Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment: Practice Guide (DCLG)

7.1.5 The purpose of the Practice Guide is to assist local authorities, owners, applicants and other interested parties in implementing Planning Policy Statement 5 (Planning for the historic environment) and to help in the interpretation of policies within the PPS. The Wiltshire Core Strategy should seek to ensure that the principles set out in the Practice Guide are mirrored by the forward planning process and new development in Wiltshire.

Heritage Protection for the 21st Century: White Paper (2007) and Heritage Protection Bill (2008)

7.1.6 This aims, in particular, to increase the opportunities for public involvement and community engagement within the heritage protection system. The Wiltshire Core Strategy should aim to increase awareness and understanding of the historic environment through facilitating the protection of assets, enhancing their settings and encouraging walking, cycling and improvements to the public realm. The Wiltshire Core Strategy should also aim to facilitate greater public engagement with the heritage protection system.

DCMS The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future (2001)/ HM Government’s Statement on the Historic Environment of England (March 2010)

7.1.7 Both set out how the historic environment holds the key to: an inspiring education resource; more attractive towns and cities; a prosperous and sustainable countryside; world class tourist attractions; and new jobs. They acknowledge that the “historic environment is an asset of enormous cultural, social, economic and

environmental value”. The protection and enhancement of cultural heritage assets and their settings should be a key consideration for the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (Draft 2011)

7.1.8 The NPPF is a material consideration to be taken into account in the Core Strategy and the following points are of particular relevance to the historic environment:

Sustainable development

• Development plans must aim to achieve the objective of sustainable development which includes using the planning system to protect and enhance the historic environment. Para 10, 20 Draft NPPF • Local plans should identify land which is genuinely important to protect from development, for instance because of its environmental or historic value. Para 24 Draft NPPF • Local plans should contain a clear strategy for the environmental enhancement of the area. Para 24 Draft NPPF • Each LPA should ensure that the Local Plan is based on adequate, up-to-date and relevant evidence about the economic, social and environmental characteristics and prospects of the area. Para 27 Draft NPPF • LPA’s should…prepare a SHLAA to establish realistic assumptions about the availability, suitability and the likely economic viability of land to meet the identified requirement for housing over the plan period. Para 28 Draft NPPF • Note–to be suitable proposals should accord with national planning policy for the historic environment.

7.1.9 To be “sound” a plan should be positively prepared – with a presumption in favour of sustainable development; justified – the most appropriate when considered against reasonable alternatives and based on evidence; effective; and consistent with national policy. Para 48 Draft NPPF

Historic environment

• The Government’s objective is that the HE and its heritage assets should be conserved (“in a manner appropriate to their significance”) and enjoyed for the quality of life they bring to this and future generations. Para 176, 177 Draft NPPF • A LPA should set out a conservation and enjoyment strategy for the HE taking into account the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits that conservation of the historic environment can bring. Para 178, Draft NPPF • Footnote 16 on pg 50 is very significant. It basically highlights that plan making needs to conform to policy within this HE section. • “LPAs should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset) taking account of the available evidence and any necessary expertise. They should use this assessment when considering the impact of a

proposal on a heritage asset, to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal”. Para 181 Draft NPPF

7.1.10 When considering the impact of a proposed development on a designated heritage asset, considerable importance and weight should be given to its conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be. Para 183 draft NPPF

7.2 Additional baseline information

7.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

7.2.2 Wiltshire's heritage is unique and outstanding, ranging from pre-historic monuments such as Stonehenge, to links with the industrial revolution, including canal and railway structures. The landscape of Wiltshire as we see it today is the product of a series of major changes through which its character has been transformed by the interaction of natural and human or anthropogenic processes. This rich and historic landscape forms an important part of Wiltshire’s rich natural heritage. Like most areas, the landscape of Wiltshire bears the imprint of successive periods of human inhabitation and land use. While the basic landforms have remained the same, the vegetation covering and land uses have been subjected to constant change, although some periods of change have been far more rapid and radical than others. These changes are important not only from an archaeological perspective but also in determining the overall character of Wiltshire.

7.2.3 Wiltshire has a rich prehistory including numerous examples of Neolithic long mounds, including some 20 examples around Avebury to the east of Wiltshire. One of the most dramatic, the West Kennet long barrow, is some 113m in length and contains individual chambers constructed of sarsen slabs. Henge monuments are also part of this period, the most famous being Stonehenge, although it is only the bank and ditch that are Neolithic. Stonehenge is surrounded by other henge monuments, which vary considerably in their size, such as Durrington Walls and Woodhenge, both of which contained circular settings of timber posts. Huge henge enclosures such as at Avebury and at Hatfield Farm, Marden in the Vale of Pewsey were built, together with the circular mound of Silbury Hill.

7.2.4 At the time of writing Wiltshire has nearly 20,000 archaeological sites ranging from the prehistoric through to Roman and medieval times and the civil war battlefield at Roundway Down. There are also approximately 12,000 listed buildings, 37 historic parks and gardens, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and more than 200 conservation areas. The majority of the conservation areas in Wiltshire consist of the historic parts of towns and villages, but some include other special landscapes which can also be designated, such as the canal corridor at Wilcot. The high number of conservation areas reflects the importance of the county’s heritage, much of which is recognised at national and international levels.

7.2.5 The north of Wiltshire contains many notable historic assets including the 7th century abbey, founded by St Aldhlem in Saxon times, at the heart of Malmesbury. The abbey is now the parish church and includes some of the finest Norman architecture

and statuary in England. Many of the historic market towns have retained much of their architectural heritage and owe much of their prosperity to the wool trade and the quarrying of Bath stone. The northern area of Wiltshire also includes many historic railway structures including the Box railway tunnel completed in 1841 under the direction of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

7.2.6 The town of Devizes to the east of Wiltshire has more than 500 listed buildings. The Kennet and Avon Canal was built between 1794 and 1810 to link Devizes with Bristol and London. The canal fell into disuse after the coming of the railway in the 1850s, but has been restored for leisure uses. Near Devizes the canal rises 237 feet (72 m) by means of 29 locks, 16 of them in a straight line at Caen Hill. Further to the east lies the Neolithic henge monument of Avebury. The monument contains the largest stone circle in Europe, and is one of the best known prehistoric sites in Britain. This ancient monument forms part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site.

7.2.7 To the west lies the county town of Trowbridge. Like many Wiltshire towns Trowbridge has a rich textile heritage. The canal that runs to the north of the town has also played a large part in the town’s development. There is much of architectural interest in Trowbridge, including many historic assets associated with the textile industry, and the Newtown conservation area, a protected zone of mostly Victorian houses. Bradford on Avon is situated to the north of Trowbridge; its canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists. The history of the town can be traced back to Roman origins. It has several buildings dating to the 17th century, when the town grew, again due to the thriving woollen textile industry.

7.2.8 The historic Salisbury City lies to the south of Wiltshire. The city is home to numerous medieval streets and alleyways coupled with rich architecture including many half- timbered buildings. Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in Britain and stands in the largest medieval close in Britain. The Stonehenge element of Wiltshire’s world heritage site is located just 8 miles north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.

7.2.9 Wiltshire has a significant military presence being home to 20 per cent of the entire British Army. This presence has greatly influenced both social and physical characteristics of Wiltshire including its heritage assets. RAF Chilmark, to the west of Salisbury, was a former armaments depot used in the Second World War and during the Cold War, with both surface and below ground storage facilities. It was established at the site of a stone quarry which itself had a long history of supplying stone for buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral. In addition to the military sites themselves are older buildings, such as Zouch Manor, and landscape features such as the water meadow known as the North-East Quadrant, Tidworth.

7.2.10 Wiltshire also contains numerous villages and rural settlements outside of the Market towns; these rural areas include many historic farm buildings. Even though the best examples are listed as being of special architectural and historic interest, there has been an alarming number of losses in recent years and surviving examples of threshing barns, granaries, malt houses, dovecotes and stables are becoming increasingly rare.

The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Property Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

7.2.11 A Draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) was published in 2011. This document provides information on key issues and trends currently affecting the World Heritage Site which will need to be taken account of in the sustainability appraisal.

7.2.12 The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Property is internationally important for its complexes of outstanding prehistoric monuments. However, the presence of busy main roads going through the World Heritage Property impacts adversely on its integrity. The roads sever the relationship between Stonehenge and its surrounding monuments, notably the A344 which separates the Stone Circle from the Avenue. At Avebury, roads cut through some key monuments including the Henge and the West Kennet Avenue. The A4 separates the Sanctuary from its barrow group at Overton Hill. Roads and vehicles also cause damage to the fabric of some monuments while traffic noise and visual intrusion have a negative impact on their settings. The incremental impact of highway-related clutter needs to be carefully managed.

7.2.13 Development pressures are present and require careful management; impacts from existing intrusive development should be mitigated where possible.

7.2.14 At a local level, the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Property is protected by the legal designation of all its key monuments. There is a specific policy in the Local Development Framework to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the Property from inappropriate development, along with adequate references in relevant strategies and plans at all levels. The Local Planning Authority is responsible for continued protection through policy development and its effective implementation in deciding planning applications with the management plans for Stonehenge and Avebury as a key material consideration. These plans also take into account the range of other values relevant to the World Heritage Property. Avebury lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: a national statutory designation to ensure the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the landscape.

7.2.15 The World Heritage Property has effective management plans, coordinators and steering groups at both Stonehenge and Avebury but there is a need for an overall integrated management system for the Property. A review of the current system and governance arrangements should inform any future changes. Research Frameworks have been published for the World Heritage Property and are regularly reviewed.

7.2.16 At the time of inscription the State Party agreed to remove the A344 road to reunite Stonehenge and its Avenue and improve the setting of the Stone Circle. The impact of roads and traffic and the need to improve visitor facilities remain the biggest challenge.

Heritage at risk register 2011: South West (English Heritage)

7.2.17 The Heritage at Risk register for the South West21 identifies which of the region’s most important grade I and II* listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields, protected wreck sites, conservation areas and industrial archaeology are threatened by development pressures, neglect or decay. The region has the highest number of scheduled monuments of any region, and a significant proportion are at high risk.

7.2.18 The South West has one of the highest densities of listed agricultural buildings in the UK (0.77 per km²). The restructuring of the farming industry means that traditional farm buildings are often more susceptible to change than other types of historic building and sites. Across the South West around 10% of places of worship may also be at risk from major structural problems. Places of worship in rural areas are slightly more at risk as there are more grade I and II* places of worship in rural areas, and the communities they are in have fewer people to share the burden of care and finance.

7.2.19 In relation to Wiltshire, the register includes details of many grade I and II* listed buildings that are considered to be at risk, as well as many Scheduled Monuments. There are around 250 Scheduled Monuments at risk in Wiltshire in 2011, many of which are barrows at risk due to arable ploughing/clipping and extensive animal burrowing. With regards industrial archaeology, the medieval moated site and Romano-British settlement at White Walls Wood, Easton Grey, Wiltshire is listed as a priority site.

7.2.20 There is one Registered Park and Garden II* on the register – Tottenham House and Savernake Forest. The condition is stated as ‘extensive significant problems’ and declining. The main house has planning permission for hotel development, including building over Brown’s walled garden and laying out a golf course in the park.

Other local baseline evidence

7.2.21 With regards the baseline evidence for heritage in Wiltshire, it is considered that more information is needed on current issues and trends occurring locally, especially on non-designated heritage assets. The assessment of likely effects through the sustainability appraisal process is dependent on the availability of local evidence but will also make use of officer judgement and experience in the assessment of effects. The sustainability appraisal scoping report will be revised in future to take account of future evidence when it becomes available. It will also be important for the Core Strategy evidence base to establish the value and significance of certain areas and their susceptibility to harm from development, and a better understanding of the evolution of Wiltshire’s historic environment will be required, including current trends.

7.2.22 A Historic Landscape Characterisation Project for Wiltshire and Swindon is due to start in January 2012 and will take three years. The Historic Landscape Characterisation programme is a tool that provides a framework for broadening understanding of the whole landscape and contributes to decisions affecting

21 Heritage at Risk Register 2010 South West (English Heritage, 2010)

tomorrow's landscape. The sustainability appraisal will take account of the findings of this project when information is available.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire South West England Land designated as World Heritage Site 1.5% 1.2% 0.7% Source: Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011

7.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

7.3.1 In the absence of the Core Strategy, protection of the historic environment could be assumed to remain as it is now. Core Strategy policy possibly provides increased protection and enhancement of the historic environment and will replace a number of policies of the former district councils, giving greater clarification through one Wiltshire-wide policy.

7.3.2 We cannot be certain whether levels of development and growth would be higher or lower without Core Strategy implementation. Housing requirements for Wiltshire are now lower than the RSS requirement. Without an up-to-date plan in place, development is likely to come forward in less sustainable locations that could damage designated and non-designated sites or buildings and their settings.

7.4 Review of key sustainability issues

7.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to the historic environment which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• There are a number of issues currently affecting the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site. Development pressures are present and require careful management, and there are an increasing number of applications for wind turbines which could significantly impact on this area.

• It has been agreed to remove the A344 road to reunite Stonehenge and its avenue and improve the setting of the stone circle. However, the impact of roads and traffic and the need to improve visitor facilities remain the biggest challenges.

• The Heritage at Risk 2011 Register for the South West has highlighted a significant number of listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments that are at risk. Development can pose significant further risks to these designations but can also play an important role in providing funding to enhance designations and their settings.

• Heritage assets under threat or at risk from neglect or decay, or development pressures e.g. growth has the potential to lead to effects on historic

landscapes and cause direct damage to archaeological sites, monuments and buildings.

• Archaeological remains, both seen and unseen have the potential to be affected by new development areas.

• There are areas of significantly degraded landscape / townscape.

• Distinctive historic environment assets are at risk from neglect or decay. • Effects on the historic environment from inappropriate and poor design and layout of housing, employment and retail provision.

• There are areas where, on current trends, there is likely to be further significant loss or erosion of landscape/ townscape character or quality.

• There are areas where development has had or is likely to have significant impact (direct and or indirect) upon the historic environment and/or people’s enjoyment of it.

• There are areas where landscape character or quality is being eroded because of changing farming or other land management practices.

• Traffic congestion, air quality, noise pollution and other problems affecting the historic environment e.g. Increasing traffic flows and congestion affecting the integrity of historic environment assets and their settings leading to pressures on the quality of the historic landscape quality and the loss of character and integrity of the historic built environment and its setting.

• Areas where quality of life, including economic and social well being, is significantly affected by the above environmental problems.

Issues

• Preserving and enhancing the designated and non-designated historic environment resource – (non-designated assets are not afforded the same degree of protection as designated sites and areas).

• Conserving the industrial/commercial heritage of the area.

Opportunities

• Addressing heritage at risk.

• Improving the understanding of the historic environment for example by completing Conservation Area appraisals and management plans.

• Using the historic environment to contribute to local distinctiveness and a sense of place and community engagement (local lists?).

• Promoting the innovative reuse of the existing building stock.

• Improving awareness, involvement, and understanding of, and access to, the historic environment.

• Heritage-led regeneration opportunities, heritage based tourism, traditional building skills and the wider environmental economy.

• Using the historic environment as an educational resource.

7.5 Sustainability objectives

7.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to this topic area. The current objective is:

• ‘Protect, maintain and enhance the historic environment and archaeological assets’.

7.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes and policies, baseline assessment and consultation responses, it is considered appropriate to remove reference to ‘archaeological assets’ as the objective is intended to address all facets of what constitutes the historic environment. The objective has therefore been amended to ‘Protect, maintain and enhance the historic environment’.

8 Topic 7: Landscapes

8.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

8.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy (some of these documents were included in the 2010 Scoping Report but the content relating to landscape has been outlined in this section):

• Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment • European Landscape Convention (Council of Europe, 2000) • Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) • PPS1: Delivering sustainable development (ODPM, 2005) • PPS7: Sustainable development in rural areas (ODPM, 2004) • PPS22: Renewable Energy (ODPM, 2004) • Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment (Wiltshire Council, 2005)

Plan/Programme Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment

Level National Document date March 2010 Summary of document This is a consultation document on a new planning policy statement (PPS) on planning for the natural environment, green infrastructure, open space, sport, recreation and play. A key objective of this single new PPS is to bring together related policies on the natural environment and on open and green spaces in rural and urban areas to ensure that the planning system delivers healthy sustainable communities which adapt to and are resilient to climate change and gives the appropriate level of protection to the natural environment. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The Government signed the Council of Europe’s European Landscape Convention in February 2006 which became binding from March 2007. It requires all types of landscape, whether they are outstanding, ordinary or degraded to be valued, and advises that the characteristics of different areas be identified and assessed and landscape quality objectives identified for them. These objectives can then guide policy making and decision taking. Local development frameworks should set out policies for the conservation, restoration, enhancement and enjoyment of the natural environment in their area which are consistent with national, regional and local biodiversity, geodiversity and landscape priorities, objectives and targets. Local planning authorities should include criteria-based policies in their local development frameworks against which to judge proposals for development on, or affecting landscapes outside nationally designated landscape areas that are particularly highly valued locally, based on an assessment of landscape character, sensitivity and capacity. The policies should provide sufficient protection for these areas of landscape while not unduly restricting acceptable, sustainable development and economic activity. Local planning authorities should rigorously consider the justification for retaining existing local landscape designations, and they should only be maintained or, exceptionally, extended where it can be clearly shown that criteria-based planning policies cannot provide the necessary protection.

Plan/Programme European Landscape Convention Level European Document date 2000 Summary of document The ELC is a Treaty established by the Council of Europe and ratified by the UK in March 2007 ‘to promote landscape protection, management and planning and to organise European co-operation on landscape issues’ (Article 3). It applies to all areas including ‘natural, rural, urban and peri-urban’ areas, and also includes land and water (both inland and marine). In addition it is concerned with all landscape, whether ‘outstanding’, ‘everyday’ or even ‘degraded’. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The Convention seeks to ensure enhanced landscape planning, protection and management through quality objectives and an effective policy framework by: • recognising landscape in law • developing landscape policies dedicated to the protection, management and creation of landscapes • establishing procedures for the participation of the general public and other stakeholders in the creation and implementation of landscape policies. The Convention also encourages the integration of landscape into all relevant areas of policy (including cultural, economic and social policies) and there is a particular emphasis on the need for co-operation in implementing programmes relating to landscapes that cross administrative and national boundaries.

Plan/Programme Countryside and Rights of Way Act Level National Document date 2000 Summary of document The Act provides for public access on foot to certain types of land, amends the law relating to public rights of way, increases measures for the management and protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and strengthens wildlife enforcement legislation, and provides for better management of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Under Section 85 of the CROW Act it is a legal duty for all relevant authorities to “have regard to” the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the AONB in exercising or performing any functions affecting land in the area. These relevant authorities include all statutory bodies and all tiers of government, including parish councils and holders of public office.

Plan/Programme PPS1: Delivering sustainable development Level National Document date 2005 Summary of document PPS1 sets out the Government's overarching planning policies on the delivery of sustainable development through the planning system. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions When preparing development plans local authorities should (in regard to landscapes): • place a high level of protection on our most valued landscapes • take account of the impact of development on landscape • protect and enhance landscape character

Plan/Programme PPS7: Sustainable development in rural areas Level National Document date 2004 Summary of document PPS7 sets out the Government’s planning policies for rural areas, including country towns and villages and the wider, largely undeveloped countryside up to the fringes of larger urban areas. The Government’s objectives for rural areas that are relevant to this PPS are: • To raise the quality of life in rural areas • To promote more sustainable patterns of development • Promoting the development of the English regions by improving their economic performance so that all are able to reach their full potential • Promote sustainable, diverse and adaptable agricultural sectors Key objectives/requirements/conclusions PPS 7 states that the countryside should be protected for its own sake for the enjoyment of all by strictly controlling development and respecting landscape character and local distinctiveness. It acknowledges the highest status of protection for our nationally important designated landscapes (AONB, NP etc) and that this should be reflected in our polices and Development Management decisions and in the context of meeting the local needs of communities within them. Major development should only be allowed if it is in the public interest and meets strict criteria including consideration of the impact in the protected landscape and the potential to mitigate the impact. Landscape Character Assessment, Village or Town Design Statements and Village or Parish Plans produced by local communities are recommended as tools to assist in the preparation of criteria based policies to provide landscape protection and guidance that encourages good quality design throughout rural areas. PPS 7 also promotes a sustainable agriculture sector which helps to manage and protect the landscape. Local planning authorities should seek to avoid the use of the best and most versatile agricultural land except where this would be inconsistent with other sustainability considerations.

Plan/Programme PPS22: Renewable Energy Level National Document date 2004 Summary of document Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) sets out the Government's policies for renewable energy, which planning authorities should have regard to when preparing local development documents and when taking planning decisions.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Aside from the advantages of renewable energy development proposals should include details of how environmental and social impacts have been minimised through careful consideration of location, scale, design and other factors. As with mineral extraction renewable energy can only be developed where the resource exists and where economically feasible. In AONBs renewable energy projects should only be permitted when it is demonstrated that the objectives of designation are not compromised and any significant adverse effects on the qualities for which the area has been designated are clearly outweighed by the environmental, social and economic benefits. In Green Belts renewable energy will comprise inappropriate development. Assessment of visual impacts and demonstration of very special circumstances (such as wider environmental benefits that clearly outweigh any harm) will require careful consideration if projects are to proceed. The Companion Guide to PPS22 makes clear endorsements of the landscape character approach when planning for renewable energy at the regional level. It also highlights the importance of assessing the sensitivity of the landscape, its character and vulnerability to change in relation to particular forms of development.

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment Level Local Document date 2005 Summary of document The Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment was commissioned by Wiltshire County Council and undertaken by Land Use Consultants. The project was directed by a steering group comprising officers from the County Council and constituent district and unitary authorities. Landscape character assessment is a technique that has been developed to facilitate systematic analysis, description and classification of the landscape. It involves identification of those features or combinations of elements that contribute to the character of the landscape, thereby enabling the special character and qualities of a particular area to be understood. The main purpose of this assessment is to document the current status of the Wiltshire landscape, furthering the understanding of the landscape resource available in the area and giving an indication of areas in need of enhancement and of conservation. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The assessment has confirmed the landscape of Wiltshire as of largely strong character and good condition as would be suggested by the large proportion of the county designated as AONB. The chalk downs that dominate the county are considered strong in character along with the greensand hills and limestone valleys, while the less distinctive clay and limestone lowlands and greensand terraces are moderate in strength of character. There are no landscape types considered to be of weak character.

8.2 Additional baseline information

8.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

8.2.2 Wiltshire’s natural environment has undergone slow and steady decline over the past century and this has the potential to accelerate in the future due to increasing pressures on land use and the effects of climate change. Wiltshire’s Local Development Framework (LDF) provides an opportunity to set policies to manage land use in order to protect, maintain and enhance our valuable natural environment for future generations.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

8.2.3 The current Management Plans for the three AONBs in Wiltshire are as follows:

• Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB Management Plan 2009 – 2014 • North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan 2009 – 2014 • Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2009 – 2014

8.2.4 Proposals for development within or affecting the AONBs will be expected to have regard to these, or any revised or replacement Management Plans. Other documents prepared by the AONBs may also be relevant, including position statements, woodland and biodiversity strategies, and the landscape character assessments listed above.

8.2.5 The management plan for the North Wessex Downs AONB identifies a number of threats to the landscape including development pressure but also identifies opportunities to manage change and enhance its character. It recognises that there is a need to manage development pressures with sensitivity within the AONB and its setting in order to maintain a balance in promoting economic and social viability whilst retaining its landscape character. Key issues identified in relation to development include:

• Remoteness and tranquillity – at risk from intrusion, artificial lighting and noise • Sensitivities to wind turbines – all of the landscapes within the AONB are constrained to a degree • Green infrastructure – an opportunity for development to secure and enhance the green infrastructure of the AONB and deliver multiple benefits • Urban fringe – expansion of urban areas (although this relates predominately to Swindon) • Equine related activities – impacts of gallops and associated facilities; • Noise – impacts of increased noise upon tranquillity • Built environment - appropriate and sympathetic design and sitting of development, including brownfield sites especially MoD land, should be guided by local landscape character

8.2.6 The management plan for the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB identifies a number of threats to the landscape and biodiversity of the AONB related to planning:

• Sense of place – distinctive features are being replaced by standard designs and materials in developments, eroding local character and distinctiveness • Roads and traffic - noise pollution, traffic and damage to rural lanes can seriously detract from the rural character of the AONB, local distinctiveness and tranquillity • Landscape character sensitivity - a lack of awareness regarding AONB sensitivities leading to inappropriate development and land management schemes and policies • Development pressures – residential development and tall structures e.g. wind turbines, threaten the special and perceptual sense of rurality, remoteness, tranquillity and dark skies • Declines in chalk grassland and bird populations • Habitat fragmentation • Invasive species

8.2.7 The Cotswolds AONB management plan recognises the importance of planning to maintain the character, appearance and biodiversity of the area and also indentifies a number of key issues associated with development, including:

• The need to manage development pressures both within and in the setting of the • AONB, maintaining economic and social viability whilst retaining traditional Cotswolds character • The importance of providing affordable housing to ensure that balanced communities can survive and prosper • Concern regarding loss of local facilities and services • Potential impacts of converting traditional agricultural buildings, and the need to retain distinctive features

• Noise, activity and lighting associated with development can impact on tranquillity • Equine related activities can damage landscape characteristics and need to be controlled • Potential impacts of wind turbines and support for alternative sources of renewable energy • Potential impacts of re-using brownfield land, particularly MoD sites in the countryside • Habitats and species are in decline • Over abstraction for development • Recreational disturbance upon wildlife • The need to protect, enlarge and reconnect wildlife sites

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA)

8.2.8 In recent years the government has been strongly promoting the use of LCA as a tool for use in criteria-based policies on landscape within development plans, as can be seen in national policy statements:

• PPS1 - When preparing development plans, “planning authorities should seek to enhance as well as protect biodiversity, natural habitats, the historic environment and landscape and townscape character”. • PPS7 – LCA is recommended as a tool for implementing carefully drafted, criteria-based policies in Local Development Documents; and • PPS22 - applying LCA at the regional level is recommended to inform strategic planning for renewables.

8.2.9 More recently Natural England has called for all planning policies to be underpinned by LCAs, stressing that all landscapes matter and that we should aim to protect distinctiveness and diversity, manage change, and integrate landscape issues into strategies, policies, processes and actions39. This demonstrates a general trend towards the use of criteria based polices in LDFs as a preferred approach to protecting and enhancing all landscapes.

8.2.10 This approach is also clearly consistent with the objectives of the European Landscape Convention, which emphasises the application of a holistic approach, applied to all landscapes, where Landscape Protection is defined as ‘actions to conserve and maintain the significant or characteristic features of a landscape, justified by its heritage value derived from its natural configuration and/or from human activity’.

Special Landscape Areas (SLA)

8.2.11 Seven SLAs are currently identified in Wiltshire:

1. The majority of Salisbury Plain excluding two areas around Netheravon, Larkhill, Bulford and Amesbury, and Ludgershall and Tidworth; 2. Areas of to the north and east of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB, excluding an area around Salisbury and Wilton; 3. The Blackmore Vale from Zeals to Sedgehill, and a small area to the east of Shaftesbury; 4. The Chapsmanslade Greensand Ridge; 5. The higher land of the Spye and Bowood Parklands; 6. The River Frome valley at Vaggs Hill; and

7. The southern fringes of the Cotswolds outside the AONB.

8.2.12 No descriptions of the special landscape characteristics of these individual areas or the reason for each individual designation are known or available at the current time.

8.2.13 There has been considerable debate over the use of Local Landscape Designations (LLDs) such as SLAs as a tool for planning policy in recent years, with a strong argument emerging for their replacement with criteria-based policies based on LCA. Support for this approach has been largely driven by the government’s PPS7, which advocates removal of LLDs in favour of an LCA approach:

‘carefully drafted, criteria-based policies in LDDs, utilising tools such as landscape character assessment, should provide sufficient protection for these areas, without the need for rigid local designations that may unduly restrict acceptable, sustainable development and the economic activity that underpins the vitality of rural areas’ (para 24).’

8.2.14 This issue will require significant consideration and further studies to identify the most appropriate option for landscape policies in the LDF. A problem with retaining this local designation in the Core Strategy is therefore an apparent lack of evidence to support its elevated status as a ‘special’ landscape i.e. the characteristics which makes these landscapes special. The current evidence base does not justify retention of the current suite of SLAs, however evidence is also emerging that the special characteristics of certain SLAs, or parts thereof, may not be fully captured by the LCA approach. Wellhead Valley near Westbury is an example of such an area.

8.2.15 Where SLAs, or parts thereof, have unique characteristics which are not accurately identified or differentiated by the LCA methodology, this may justify the retention of SLAs. However sufficient evidence will be required to demonstrate the special characteristics of these areas and provide a clear rationale for their boundaries. If the SLA designation is to be included within the emerging Local Development Framework for Wiltshire it will need to be applied in a much more focussed and targeted manner, it is therefore likely to cover a considerably restricted area relative to extent of the current seven SLAs.

8.2.16 A sound evidence base will be essential for any local policy on SLAs to meet the requirements of PPS7: ‘local landscape designations should only be maintained or, exceptionally, extended where it can be clearly shown that criteria-based planning policies cannot provide the necessary protection.’ The current lack of such evidence is a major constraint to adoption of policy on SLAs; this lack of evidence in support of SLAs has previously led to inspector’s recommendations for deletions of relevant policies for other local plans and LDFs.

8.2.17 There are however also examples where the continued use of local designations has been found sound through scrutiny by the Planning Inspectorate including the Borough of Sutton and Harrogate. These examples demonstrate that any continued use of LLDs must be supported by a sound evidence base to demonstrate their unique characteristics and must also be complemented by adequate policy to protect and enhance all non-designated landscapes.

Green belt and rural buffers

8.2.18 Wiltshire includes part of the Avon Green Belt which surrounds the wider Bath and Bristol areas. 58% of the Avon Green Belt is classed as ‘neglected’ or ‘weakened’ in

landscape terms and 33% ‘maintained’ or sustained (data is not available for the remaining 9%). The current condition of both agricultural land and field boundaries such as hedgerows are the main concerns, but the condition of woodland is good. 14,549 ha (22%) of the Avon Green Belt coincides with land designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 1,512 ha are registered as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or wildlife sites of at least national importance, representing 2.3% of the Avon Green Belt, while there are a further 264ha of Local Nature Reserves.

8.2.19 Asked what Green Belt activities they would like to undertake in the next twelve 22 months, the public in the south west most commonly chose :

• visiting the Green Belt on a day out with friends/family • visiting Green Belt to get peace and quiet • visiting Green Belt to see wildlife or bird watching.

8.2.20 When asked what they would like to see more of in the Green Belt, the public in the south west were keen to see:

• woodland walks; • nature reserves; and • community food growing (e.g. allotments and pick-your-own farms).

8.2.21 The boundaries of Green Belts are determined by local authorities and kept up to date and publicly available in local plans; in Wiltshire this currently includes the North Wiltshire Local Plan and the West Wiltshire District Plan. Those parts of Wiltshire included in the Avon Green Belt include land surrounding Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge and west of Corsham. The particular objectives of the Western Wiltshire Green Belt are to maintain the open character of undeveloped land adjacent to Bath, Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon, to limit the spread of development along the A4 between Batheaston and Corsham and to protect the historic character and setting of Bradford upon Avon.

8.2.22 Rural buffers are a local designation included originally in the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan and North Wiltshire Local Plan. These included a large buffer west of Swindon and some smaller areas between Chippenham and surrounding villages. The aim of these designations in the local plan was to protect towns and villages from coalescence by restricting development and land use in these areas, in a similar way to Green Belts.

8.2.23 The Swindon Rural Buffer (NE2) and Local Rural Buffer (NE3) policies of the North Wiltshire Local Plan were removed from these plans by the Secretary of State in 2007 as they conflict with national policy in PPS7 on local land designations. PPS7 calls into question ‘the need for rigid local designations that may unduly restrict acceptable, sustainable development and the economic activity that underpins the vitality of rural areas.’, and includes policy restricting development in the open countryside, focussing development in or adjacent to existing settlements.

22 Green Belts: Key facts – Avon Green Belt (CPRE and Natural England, 2010).

Tranquility

8.2.24 Tranquillity is raised as an important element of the AONBs in their relevant management plans, and it is also cited in national policy documents as being an important characteristic of a landscape2324. In 2001 a poll for DEFRA of 3,700 adults in England found that the most mentioned enjoyable or positive aspect of the countryside was tranquillity, mentioned by 58 per cent25. Indeed it can help to relieve stress, improve emotional well-being and even improve health.

8.2.25 Despite its perceived importance the concept of tranquillity is poorly defined and understood. The problem is that it is an extremely subjective and experiential quality of landscapes, but an important one nonetheless which is seen as an indicator of environmental quality. It is this perceived difficultly in defining tranquillity that often leads to it being overlooked in planning decisions and environmental assessments.

8.2.26 Over the years various attempts have been made to assess and map tranquillity; however the most significant recent study was commissioned by the Campaign to Protect for Rural England (CPRE) in 2006, and involved mapping the relative tranquillity of the entire country26. The study has been particularly significant as it has provided a more widely accepted, standard methodology for assessing and mapping tranquillity, and has given rise to a number of smaller scale, higher resolution studies, including Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB which undertook an investigation based on the CPRE data in 2008 using GIS27; by groundtruthing this data. Our understanding of tranquillity and ability to capture its quality and value are clearly improving, while the evidence base is also increasing.

Sustainable design

8.2.27 In recent years there has been a realisation that features of the natural environment should be incorporated into design schemes, not only to reduce the impacts of development upon biodiversity, but also to provide legibility, retain local character, create a sense of place, and allow people to connect with nature, while natural green spaces within developments can also provide ‘ecosystem services’, encourage healthy lifestyles and increase the value of nearby properties (see Green Infrastructure topic paper for more details). It is often possible to incorporate elements of the existing ecological network such as hedgerows, ditches, ponds, meadows, trees etc into design schemes, and there are numerous examples of best practice available to demonstrate how this has been successfully achieved in sustainable developments such as Sherford in Devon.

8.2.28 The key step in achieving sustainable design is to identify important elements of the natural environment within and surrounding the site, and establish the local landscape character at an early stage in order to understand the context of the site

23 DETR (2000) Our Countryside: The Future. A Fair Deal for Rural England http://archive.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/policy/ruralwp/rural.pdf 24 DEFRA (2004) Rural Strategy 2004 http://archive.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/policy/strategy/rural_strategy_2004.pdf 25 National Statistics and Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (2002) Survey of Public Attitudes to Quality of Life and to the Environment 26 CPRE (2006) Mapping Tranquillity: Defining and Assessing a valuable Resource www.cpre.org.uk/filegrab/mapping-tranquillity.pdf 27 Bell, H. and Burden R. (2008) Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB Tranquillity Mapping – Investigative Study. http://www.ccwwdaonb.org.uk/docs/TranquillityReport.pdf

and incorporate this into the design rationale28. This includes all of the above elements from international designations down to individual features such as mature trees and hedgerows, particularly functional features such as wildlife corridors or foraging areas for protected or BAP species. This should help to inform the design scheme, with the objective of conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment, protecting local distinctiveness and minimising habitat fragmentation72. Retaining such features can also provide opportunities to restore them to favourable condition, for example to open up a previously canalised watercourse, lay hedgerows or manage neglected areas of wildflower meadows, helping to enhance the natural environment and contribute to BAP and SNA targets. However, consideration must be given to how these features will be used and maintained in the long-term.

8.2.29 Sustainable development can also provide opportunities to create habitats and improve the local environment, particularly on sites of low ecological interest or in degraded landscapes. Landscape schemes can create areas of wildflower-rich grassland, native scrub, hedgerows and woodland and other landscape features, while the inclusion of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) can create a network of ponds, swales and wet grassland; such features can be particularly valuable for biodiversity where they form connections with elements of the surrounding ecological network, although long-term management and maintenance of such features must be addressed.

8.2.30 At a smaller scale the built environment itself can also provide opportunities for wildlife by incorporating bird and bat boxes into buildings, or including street trees, while use of local materials and designs can help to reinforce local character. There has also recently been significant interest in the use of green roofs and walls, which can provide a wealth of habitats for rare invertebrates and birds, while also reducing run-off rates and helping to cool buildings in summer and provide insulation in winter.

8.2.31 The recent Land Use Futures report has highlighted the importance of better integration of land uses and the importance of multi-functionality as a response to the increasing challenges and pressures on land use which we will face in the 21st Century.

Green Infrastructure (GI)

8.2.32 Wiltshire is currently preparing a GI strategy for the county which will help to enhance and deliver strategic GI projects, several of which will be delivered through the planning process. The Wiltshire Core Strategy Consultation Document (June 2011) includes two proposed policies relating specifically to Green Infrastructure, and the proposed natural environment policies will also be complementary to the aims of GI strategy, particularly in relation to the creation and enhancement of ecological networks, and improving the quality of public open green spaces in developments.

8.2.33 Green Infrastructure (GI) is defined as ‘a strategic network of multi-functional green space, both new and existing, both rural and urban, which supports natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life in sustainable communities. It delivers a broad range of functions and provides vital socio-economic and cultural benefits which underpin individual and community health and wellbeing. These functions include: conserving and enhancing the natural environment; providing wildlife corridors; reducing noise and air pollution; and helping communities to adapt to a changing climate through water and carbon management. In urban

28 English Partnerships (2000) Urban Design Compendium

areas, functions include providing routes (e.g. footpaths and cycleways) which link areas of open space within settlements; providing sustainable drainage, flood storage and urban cooling; and providing a wide range of opportunities for engagement and active citizenship, relaxation and quiet contemplation, sport, recreation and children’s play29.

Public rights of way in Wiltshire

8.2.34 Wiltshire’s network of public rights of way is over 6100km (3,800 miles) long. This, together with 27,000 hectares (67,000 acres) of access land provides public access to a wide range of landscapes all across the county. A certain amount of public access is allowed on Salisbury Plain and there are many permissive paths around the county; some of these have been negotiated through various schemes run by Natural England. Ordnance Survey maps show many other long distance routes through Wiltshire; these can be walked from end to end or used as part of a shorter circular walk. Some routes are wholly within Wiltshire while others pass through many counties.

8.2.35 The Kennet and Avon Canal provides some lovely walking and cycling opportunities along its route. Wiltshire also has stretches of the disused Wilts and Berks Canal that can be walked, for example just south of Wootton Bassett, and work is currently in progress to restore this canal.

Improvements to the rights of way network

8.2.36 The Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) outlines the aims and objectives of Wiltshire Council in managing the county’s rights of way network. It covers use for both leisure and utility journeys (such as shopping and school journeys) and developing countryside access. Although it is focused on the rights of way network, it also considers the use and improvement of other areas of land that the public may use for access, such as access land, permissive paths or canal towpaths.

8.2.37 The actions within the RoWIP broadly cover:

• Raising and improving awareness of the rights of way network and changes to the network as they occur • Maintaining the network • Improving the network to meet current needs, for example by adding missing links or upgrading it to make it easier to use by all (eg putting in gates rather than stiles or improving surfacing) • Involving volunteers and working in partnership with other organisations

8.2.38 The Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum (CAF) is a statutory body which was set up to provide strategic advice to Wiltshire Council about the management of access land. It also provides advice on the management and improvement of public access to the countryside. The group represents the wide range of interests that must be considered in the management of countryside access. The CAF meets a couple of times a year and meetings are open to the public.

8.2.39 The Wiltshire and Swindon CAF, in partnership with Wiltshire Councilm runs the Paths Improvement Grant Scheme. The scheme is aimed at helping Town and Parish Councils to make innovative improvements to countryside access in their area

29 DCLG (2010) Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Healthy Natural Environment

for residents and visitors. PIGS provides match funding and can also be used to help lever in other funding sources.

8.2.40 Examples of schemes that have been funded in previous years include:

• Surfacing on a footpath which links the two parts of Castle Combe village, so residents can use the route more easily all year round • A permissive path along an attractive section of the river Avon at Great Somerford • A permissive path in Tisbury which improves safety by bypassing the previous situation of a steep bank down to a narrow stretch of road • Several schemes to replacing stiles with kissing gates on route around and between villages, making it easier for people to get around

Key indicator table

Wiltshire South West England Land designated as AONB 44% 30% 15.7% Source: Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011

8.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

8.3.1 In the future, landscape character may be threatened by lack of appropriate management, inappropriate development in unsustainable locations and climate change if stronger policies are not adopted through the Core Strategy. Without the Core Strategy, areas deemed to be of poor townscape character may not be pro- actively improved, leading to degradation in townscape quality.

8.3.2 Wiltshire has a relatively high percentage of land covered by national and local landscape designations that currently receive a high degree of protection. It is unclear whether Core Strategy policies will strengthen this protection. The main threat to Wiltshire’s landscapes is arguably from urban development and the Core Strategy will ensure that strategic housing and employment sites are identified in sustainable locations, and that relevant mitigation and enhancement measures have been incorporated.

8.4 Review of key sustainability issues

8.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to landscapes which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• Landscape Character Assessment (LCA)/Special Landscape Areas (SLA) – in Wiltshire, our current series of SLAs have been in place for over 25 years and appear to be poorly defined and understood; indicating that they should be replaced by a criteria based LCA policy approach. However, evidence is also emerging that the special characteristics of certain SLAs (e.g. Wellhead Valley) may not be fully captured by LCA, and would warrant protection by retention of the SLA designation. Retention of the SLA designation and policy could be permitted under PPS7, but only as an ‘exceptional circumstance’.

The SLA network will need to be reviewed to identify any areas with unique characteristics that would not be adequately protected by an LCA approach. There may be an opportunity to identify those truly unique areas of Wiltshire and protect them for the future, while also avoiding unnecessarily rigid local designations which restrict opportunities for sustainable development.

• Tranquility - Tranquillity is a vital component of our landscapes, particularly in Wiltshire. Although it is highly valued by people, it has often been neglected in environmental assessments and planning decisions due to its extremely subjective and experiential qualities. However, recent advances in research have improved the way we can assess tranquillity and potential impacts upon it. Community plans have also highlighted an appreciation of and desire to preserve and enhance peace and tranquillity. The Core Strategy represents an opportunity to capture and value this important landscape characteristic in planning decisions.

• Sustainable design - Numerous design guidelines stress the importance of incorporating natural landscape features into the built environment through good design in order to protect wildlife and retain local landscape character and distinctiveness. Indeed this is increasingly important in light of the challenges of climate change and the need maintain and encourage natural processes. However, experience has shown that the natural environment is generally underrepresented in design rationales, leading to conflicts with biodiversity and landscape character, delays to the planning process, and missed opportunities to enhance the environment of new and existing communities. Indeed, previous consultations have highlighted a public desire to see development which enhances rather that spoils the environment.

The current policy framework does not provide an adequate driver to ensure that features and characteristics of the natural environment are given sufficient consideration in design schemes or to incorporate opportunities to enhance biodiversity in line with PPS9 and reinforce local character;

• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – AONBs are already afforded policy protection, however experience has shown that this does not adequately protect views into or out of these areas, potentially risking degradation of their landscape setting. The Core Strategy offers an opportunity to improve our protection of our AONBs by including consideration of ‘setting’ in planning decisions. The current policy framework also does not refer directly to the relevant management plan for each of the AONBs. These management plans provide a well informed framework of the issues and priorities in each AONB, and a policy hook to these documents from the Core Strategy could significantly help define sustainable development principles for each unique area.

8.5 Sustainability objectives

8.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to landscapes. The current objective is:

‘Protect and enhance the character and quality of Wiltshire’s rural and urban landscapes, maintaining and strengthening local distinctiveness and sense of place’.

8.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, and discussions with stakeholders, it is proposed to amend this objective slightly to:

• ‘Conserve and enhance the character and quality of Wiltshire’s rural and urban landscapes, maintaining and strengthening local distinctiveness and sense of place’.

9 Topic 8: Population and housing

9.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

9.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Building Strong Foundations - Draft Wiltshire Housing Strategy 2011 - 2016 (2010) • Wiltshire’s Older People Accommodation Strategy (2010)

Plan/Programme Building Strong Foundations - Draft Wiltshire Housing Strategy 2011 - 2016 Level Local Document date 2010 Summary of document The draft housing strategy complements and supports wider national and regional priorities, the council’s Business Plan and the Community Strategy. The aims and priorities are based on working in partnership with a range of individuals and agencies, including tenants groups, and organisations in the public, voluntary and private sectors. The draft vision of the housing strategy is: ‘In partnership we will help to build a better future with safe and secure homes in strong and vibrant communities, where everyone should have a good quality of life and access to opportunities, choices and high quality services which are sustainable, accessible and meet people’s needs, now and in the future.’ Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The key priority of the draft strategy which relates to this topic paper is: ‘Meeting housing need: Increasing the supply of well-designed market and affordable housing that is appropriate for the town or village.’

Plan/Programme Wiltshire’s Older People Accommodation Strategy Level Local Document date 2010 Summary of document The Council has produced a 10 year development strategy, modelled across two timeline options, which will modernise the way that older people’s accommodation is provided, develop and adopt an integrated accommodation system, ensure the best use of increasingly scarce resources and respond to local needs in local communities.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The development strategy will be delivered through a variety of partnerships, contractual arrangements and funding opportunities. These include: • A long-term partnering agreement with The Orders of St John Care Trust, who currently operate the Council’s care homes for older people, which recognises the need for developments and / or significant refurbishments due to the ageing nature of the existing facilities. • The Department of Health Private Finance Initiative through which the Council has been provisionally allocated £49.687m to deliver specialist dementia care and nursing facilities in the south and north of the county. • An innovative Preferred Developer Partner Framework agreement which is being jointly procured with Devon County Council to facilitate the development of extra care housing with little or no requirement for public subsidy i.e. Social Housing Grant, due to the potential cross subsidisation of facilities through the inclusion of Council owned land. • A review of the sheltered housing stock to assess the quality of accommodation and its ability to meet current and future needs. Facilities may be recommended for refurbishment to provide community extra care housing or to meet other Council priorities i.e. the provision of affordable general needs accommodation. • Utilising private sector and Registered Social Landlord (RSL) initiatives which may reduce the requirement for Council led developments in particular community areas.

9.2 Additional baseline information

9.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Population

9.2.2 One of the underlying components of housing demand is demographic change and it is important that we are able to forecast what is likely to happen in the future in order that provision for new housing can be properly planned. The overall size and structure of Wiltshire's population is changing, with implications for the delivery of housing in terms of size, type and tenure.

9.2.3 Wiltshire’s population is set to increase by 54,800 persons between 2009 and 2026, an increase of just over 12% which is below the South West average of 14.7%. However, much like the rest of the South West, it is the composition of such growth that is going to pose what is likely to be the greatest challenge to Wiltshire over the forthcoming decades: an ageing population.

The ageing population

9.2.4 Wiltshire’s population is projected to increase to 511,100 persons in 2026. The under 16 years of age population is projected to increase from 83,000 to 84,400 persons, whilst the working age population, aged 16 to 64 for males and 16 to 59 for females, is projected to increase slightly from 274,900 persons to 277,200 persons.

9.2.5 With only a 3,700 person increase in the sub-retirement age population, Wiltshire’s projected 12% total population increase over the next two decades will be almost

entirely (94.4%) accounted for by our retirement age population. This poses Wiltshire with an extremely significant ‘ageing population’ challenge.

9.2.6 The fastest population increase has been, and will continue to be, in the number of people aged 85 years and over. There are currently more than twice as many females than males in this population group. The number of males aged 85 years and over is projected to increase by 137.8% during the period 2009 to 2026, compared to an increase of only 69.1% for females of the same age group over the same period. In total, the number of Wiltshire’s residents aged over 85 years is projected to increase from 11,800 persons in 2009 to 22,500 persons in 2026.

9.2.7 The cost of adult social care is known to rise significantly for this population group. Wiltshire’s Working-Age Population (WAP) is projected to decrease from 58.9% to 55.4% of total population and Wiltshire’s Retirement-Age Population (RAP) is projected to increase by almost half again from 21.6% to 29.3% of total population from 2009 to 2026. This will result in enormous pressure on public sector resources to care for Wiltshire’s older population in the future.

The military population

9.2.8 Wiltshire is notable for the scale of its military presence, which is one of the largest in any county in the UK. The Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) covers 150 square miles.

9.2.9 Military personnel make up some 3% of the total population of Wiltshire. Including personnel and dependants an estimated 30,000 people are thought to be living in Wiltshire related to the military. The distribution of the personnel is inconsistent across Wiltshire with a number of wards seeing a military population over 20%. This is most pronounced around Salisbury Plain, where the Headquarters 43 (Wessex) Brigade is based due to the extensive training area. The wards of Tidworth, Bulford, Durrington, Upavon and Warminster East all include significant military populations peaking at 75% in Tidworth.

9.2.10 The nature of military deployment in Wiltshire is undergoing substantial changes. Major new developments are being planned and built at a number of locations across the county. Nevertheless, in general the changes can be described as a rationalisation of facilities and in some cases personnel. The development of the Salisbury Plain Super Garrison is likely to see a significant increase in military personnel and their dependants in this part of Wiltshire alongside increasing the stability in military life. However, the effects of the closure and potential re-use of RAF Lyneham and a number of other facilities and installations is as yet unknown.

Housing

9.2.11 In Wiltshire the local housing market is unbalanced. There are too few homes available which people in local communities can afford. Often these shortages are more keenly felt in smaller rural communities which mean people cannot live where they work or where they grew up. A shortage of homes at the right price and in the right place has an impact upon Wiltshire in several ways - it can affect the social health and well being of households who are forced to live in homes which are too small, in poor condition and do not offer long term security and has an effect on the economy and sustainability of communities.

9.2.12 Having access to affordable, quality homes is important for social and economic wellbeing and the health of children and families. It can also play an important role in promoting economic growth; low rates of house building lead to a restriction of labour mobility which can, as a result, constrain productivity. Wiltshire needs to respond to increasing demand and the need to supply a responsive housing stock.

9.2.13 A number of key issues have emerged from the policy and regulatory review carried out for the Core Strategy and priorities identified within our communities, as discussed below (for further information see the housing topic paper30 published with the Wiltshire Core Strategy June 2011):

Efficient use of land

9.2.14 Setting appropriate housing densities for development ensures that land is used efficiently and that greenfield land take is kept to a minimum. This is a particular issue in Wiltshire as the county is rural in nature and there is a relatively low amount of previously developed land available for development.

9.2.15 It is also essential that the density of development is appropriate to context and place. Design and density are closely interrelated and it is essential that design solutions are encouraged which will achieve higher density levels wherever possible. It should also be ensured that the density of development is not at the expense of high quality living environments or private amenity space.

9.2.16 Evidence on density in Wiltshire can be found in the monitoring of new development.

Place Average density of housing development (dwellings per hectare) Wiltshire County 23 Principal settlements of Chippenham, 37 Salisbury and Trowbridge Town centres of Chippenham, Salisbury and 87 Trowbridge

Mixed and balanced communities

9.2.17 The council is currently producing an up-to-date Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) for Wiltshire, which will identify the mix and type of dwellings which will best meet the needs of Wiltshire’s communities within the plan period. The emerging evidence, generated from the household survey, suggests that the type and tenure variations, at present across Wiltshire are comparatively slight.

9.2.18 By 2026 the composition of Wiltshire's older age groups will have changed dramatically. There will be a higher proportion of the older age groups, including the over 85s, and double the number of older disabled people. It is therefore important that new homes are suitable to meet the needs of households in the future including an ageing population. Overall it is estimated that 41,465 households in Wiltshire have one or more members in an identified support needs group – this represents 21.5% of all households. It should be noted that a household found to have a support need will not necessarily need to move to alternative accommodation.

30 Draft Topic Paper 2: Housing – Wiltshire Core Strategy Consultation June 2011 http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wcsconsult2011.htm

9.2.19 Innovative housing schemes which assist older and vulnerable people to live securely and independently in sustainable locations with good access to local services will need to be encouraged and supported. The layout, form and orientation of development should consider adaptability to change as an integral part of the design at the outset. Development proposals should demonstrate how accessibility and adaptability are addressed. The provision of sufficient new accommodation for vulnerable and older people, including nursing accommodation, residential homes and extra care facilities should also be encouraged and supported. Such accommodation should be provided in sustainable locations, where there is an identified need, within settlements (normally in the principal settlements and market towns) where there is good access to services and facilities.

Affordable housing

9.2.20 Access to the owner occupied market is heavily restricted by rising house prices with increases exceeding local income inflation. The relationship between local incomes and the realistic supply of the cheapest stock available exacerbates the affordability problem within Wiltshire.

9.2.21 In Wiltshire there has been a gradual deterioration in affordability, determined by the ratio of lower quartile house price to lower quartile income. According to government figures31, the 2010 affordability index for Wiltshire was 8.57 - higher than the Southwest and England average. This is illustrated in the table below - if a multiplier of 3.5 is assumed in order to secure a mortgage, then based on the average income a resident would be able to afford £86,954.

Affordability index for England, South-West and Wiltshire

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 England 4.72 5.23 6.28 6.82 7.15 7.25 6.97 6.28 6.69 South West 6.37 7.11 8.18 8.58 8.51 8.94 8.75 7.63 8.17 Wiltshire 7.19 8.03 8.84 8.50 8.76 9.16 8.58 8.09 8.57 Source: HM Land Registry House Prices 2010 / ONS Annual Survey of Hours & Earnings 2010

9.2.22 Income is a key driver of demand and is a core factor in the assessment of the scale of housing need and in determining affordability in local housing markets. The average house price for all properties during July 2010 was £223,043. Since 2003 the average price of all properties has risen by 33%. Entry level stock, terraced properties have increased by 30% and flats / maisonettes have increased by 32% between 2003 and 2010.

Property type July 2003 July 2010 % Change Detached £259,102 £307,556 +19 Semi-detached £150,845 £193,966 +29 Terraced £125,896 £163,525 +30 Flat £99,509 £131,097 +32 All properties £167,905 £223,043 +33

31 http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housin gmarket/livetables/housepriceindex/

Homelessness

9.2.23 The total number of homeless acceptances for Wiltshire is far higher than for any of our neighbouring local authorities. However, in terms of a rate Wiltshire had 2.2 homelessness acceptances per 1,000 households which is on par with Swindon, South Gloucestershire and Mendip; lower than South Somerset, but higher than Bath and North East Somerset or Cotswold.

9.2.24 In Wiltshire from 2007-2008 to 2009-2010 the three main causes of homelessness were and still are:

• being asked to leave by parents • termination of assured shorthold tenancies • relationship breakdown.

9.2.25 These are consistent with the national and South West homeless figures.

Gypsy and Travellers

9.2.26 The Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to plan for the accommodation needs of travelling communities by undertaking a survey of need through the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA). The Wiltshire and Swindon GTAA, published in February 2006, identified the pitch requirements for Gypsies and Travellers for the period 2006 to 2011.

9.2.27 The information provided by the Wiltshire GTAA fed into the overall assessment of need which informed the policies of the Draft South West RSS. During the RSS ‘Review of Additional Pitch Requirements for Gypsies and Travellers’ Examination in Public (EiP) (March 2008), the Wiltshire and Swindon GTAA was heavily criticised. It was found that the GTAA was ‘not robust and produced an unreasonably low estimate of need’32. The figures identified through the GTAA were questioned for various reasons, including:

• a number of sites were overlooked • accuracy of the base population • temporary permissions were about to expire • assumed future vacancy rates • the treatment of need from unauthorised sites • GTAA failed to take in to account the strength of enforcement action which displaced need to elsewhere.

9.2.28 In order to plan for the future provision for Wiltshire’s travelling communities the CLG has provided further guidance on the implications of the future revocation of the Regional Strategies. This guidance (6 July 2010) states that “Local councils are best placed to assess the needs of travellers. The abolition of Regional Strategies means that local authorities will be responsible for determining the right level of site

32 Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West – Review of Additional Pitch Requirements for Gypsies and Travellers. Examination in Public – Report of the Panel. Paragraph 4.47, Page 33. Comment based on the findings of the South West Regional Assembly’s GTAA Benchmarking Report prepared by Centre for Urban and Regional Studies at University of Birmingham and the Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit at the University of Salford.

provision, reflecting local need and historic demand, and for bring forward land in DPDs.

9.2.29 Guidance from the CLG (6 July 2010) indicates that Wiltshire Council should continue to progress with the Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations DPD and there are current, unresolved issues in Wiltshire surrounding unauthorised encampments and the lack of alternative sites which need to be addressed.

9.2.30 Two key decisions need to be made before work on providing accommodation for Wiltshire’s Gypsy and Traveller community can be taken forward.

1. With the imminent removal of Circular advice on how to prepare policies for Gypsies and Travellers should the council continue to prepare a separate DPD to provide the criteria for location of new sites and to allocate new sites or should this work become part of the wider core strategy development?

2. How should Wiltshire Council determine the right level of local need for new Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites?

9.2.31 Core Policy 31 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy applies an annualised growth rate of 3.8% to the residual Draft RSS requirement. This ensures that need is identified up until 2016, during which time a Gypsy and Traveller DPD will be progressed to help inform the future strategic planning framework for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation need. This is shown in the following table:

Permanent pitches – 3.8% annualised growth applied to residual RSS requirement Area RSS 2006- Residual 3.8 annualised Total 2011 (minus growth requirement requirement delivery for 5 years on 2006-2016 since 2006)* residual requirement (no. of additional pitches North Wiltshire 48 9 3 51 Salisbury 18 18 3 21 West Wiltshire 14 8 1 15 Kennet 5 0 1 6 Total 85 35 8 93 *Based on completion figures available at April 2011

9.2.32 Wiltshire Council commissioned CDN Planning (Wales) Ltd in 2009 to work alongside the Council to help prepare a Gypsy and Traveller DPD. Their work includes the development of planning policies and site search criteria for the allocation of specific sites as well as assessing suitable sites to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople communities within Wiltshire. Work on this DPD continues and will be subject to sustainability appraisal.

Rural housing

9.2.33 Due to insufficient rural needs data to help identify housing requirements in rural villages, a rural investment programme has been set up which focuses on understanding the needs of rural communities so that opportunities can be maximised to deliver rural housing. A rural research officer post is now being funded to carry out a programme of housing needs surveys which started in February 2011.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire South West England House price affordability index (2010) 8.57 8.17 6.69 Population growth 2001-2009 5.3% 6.1% 5.4% Dependency ratio 2009 69.87 67.2 61.1 Estimated population increase 2009-2026 12% 14.7% 12.6% Military population 2001 3.3% 0.8% 0.3% Population density 2009 (persons per Ha) 1.4 2.2 4.0 Average house price June 2010 £186,817 £176,278 £165,679 (incl. Wales) Homelessness acceptance rates (per 1000 2.2 - - households) 2008-2009

9.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

9.3.1 A review has been undertaken of Wiltshire’s housing requirements to 2026 – this has looked at past trends and includes the needs of existing residents, potential future levels of in-migration and the needs of the local economy.

9.3.2 Without the pro-active planning represented by Core Strategy policy, it may be difficult to meet future housing need and affordable housing need in particular. Affordability is a particular problem in Wiltshire as it is an attractive area to live in with a high quality environment. Delivery of adequate levels of affordable housing is not likely to result through existing saved policies.

9.4 Review of key sustainability issues

9.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to population and housing which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• Ageing population - Wiltshire’s projected 12% total population increase over the next two decades will be almost entirely (94.4%) accounted for by our retirement age population. This poses Wiltshire with an extremely significant ‘ageing population’ challenge and the changes projected will have implications for the delivery of housing in terms of size, type and tenure.

• Military population - The nature of military deployment in Wiltshire is undergoing substantial changes. Major new developments are being planned and built at a number of locations across the county. The development of the Salisbury Plain Super Garrison is likely to see a significant increase in military personnel and their dependants in this part of Wiltshire alongside increasing the stability in military life. However, the effects of the closure and potential re-use of RAF Lyneham and a number of other facilities and installations is as yet unknown.

• Gypsy and Traveller accommodation need – work is progressing on a Gypsy and Traveller Sites Allocations DPD to ensure the identified needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople who permanently reside in Wiltshire are met through the allocation of suitable and sustainable new sites.

• Affordable housing - In Wiltshire there has been a gradual deterioration in affordability. Access to the owner occupied market is heavily restricted by rising house prices with increases exceeding local income inflation. The relationship between local incomes and the realistic supply of the cheapest stock available exacerbates the affordability problem within Wiltshire.

• Flexible housing to cater for an ageing population - By 2026 the composition of Wiltshire's older age groups will have changed dramatically. There will be a higher proportion of the older age groups, including the over 85s, and double the number of older disabled people. It is therefore important that new homes are suitable to meet the needs of households in the future including an ageing population.

9.5 Sustainability objectives

9.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to population and housing. The current objective is:

• ‘Provide everyone with the opportunity to live in good quality, affordable housing, and ensure an appropriate mix of dwelling sizes, types and tenures’.

9.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objective.

10 Topic 9: Healthy communities

10.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

10.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment (DCLG, 2010) • The Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment 2010 (Wiltshire Assembly Community Safety Partnership, 2010)

Plan/Programme Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment Level National Document date March 2010 Summary of document This is a consultation document on a new planning policy statement (PPS) on planning for the natural environment, green infrastructure, open space, sport, recreation and play. A key objective of this single new PPS is to bring together related policies on the natural environment and on open and green spaces in rural and urban areas to ensure that the planning system delivers healthy sustainable communities which adapt to and are resilient to climate change and gives the appropriate level of protection to the natural environment. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions With regards healthy communities: The quality of the built environment can have significant impacts on a wide range of social issues including crime, health, education, inclusion, community cohesion and wellbeing. It can also, in part, help address many health challenges – such as reducing obesity, diabetes, heart disease and depression – through promoting more active life-styles, including walking, cycling and jogging. It is the Government’s policy that planning should: deliver safe and attractive places to live, which respect the character of the area, promote health and wellbeing, and reduce social inequalities by ensuring that people have access to high quality open spaces, green infrastructure and sports, recreational and play spaces and facilities which are safely and easily accessible by walking, cycling or public transport. And provide access and appropriate recreational opportunities in rural and coastal areas to enable urban and rural dwellers to enjoy the wider countryside.

Plan/Programme The Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment 2010 Level Local Document date September 2010 Summary of document This partnership strategic document has been commissioned from the need for focussed and joined up thinking by the various agencies within Wiltshire. Wiltshire, like most counties, has its own specific challenges to overcome in order to provide an increasingly safe and cohesive community for its residents. This assessment attempts to shed light on the most pressing issues that could threaten general wellbeing.

Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The community issues that have been selected as priorities are: ∙ Violence in the community ∙ Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and criminal damage ∙ Integrated offender management ∙ Substance misuse, and ∙ Road safety The aim of this assessment is to provide the partnership with evidence for strategic decision making, particularly in respect to identifying forthcoming priorities. Directly informing the partnership plan, the assessment will provide knowledge and understanding of the recommended community safety priorities within Wiltshire.

10.2 Additional baseline information

10.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire33 and the Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment 201034.

Background information

10.2.2 Life expectancy at birth is often used as a measure of the overall health of a population. Life expectancy in all parts of England has increased over the last century and this general trend is continuing. Currently, life expectancy for people in Wiltshire is higher than in England or the South West - 79.4 years for men and 83.3 years for women.

10.2.3 Mortality from all causes in the under-75 age group has been declining in Wiltshire, the South West and England. The two major causes of premature death nationally, and in Wiltshire, are cardiovascular disease (including coronary heart disease and stroke) and cancers. These accounted for over 65% of premature deaths (ie under the age of 75) in Wiltshire in 2008.

10.2.4 In 2008, 77% of Wiltshire’s residents reported that their health was good or very good, although this varied greatly with age. Approximately a third of the population reported that they have a long-standing illness, infirmity or disability; and this increases with age.

Children and young people

10.2.5 Infant mortality rates have declined in Wiltshire and are lower than those of the South West and England at 3.2 per 1,000 live births.

10.2.6 In 2008, Wiltshire had an under 18 conception rate of 30.9 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17, which is the equivalent of one in 33 girls becoming pregnant; this was lower than rates in England and the South West. However, the rate has declined by 6% since 1998 compared to a target reduction of 50%.

33 Joint Strategic Assessment for Wiltshire 2010-2011 (Wiltshire Public Services Board, 2010) 34 Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment 2010 (Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership, 2010)

10.2.7 Wiltshire’s rates of childhood obesity are below the national and regional averages. However, 2008/2009 data demonstrates that one in 12 boys and one in 14 girls in Reception year and one in six boys and one in eight girls in Year 6 were obese.

Obesity, healthy eating and exercise

10.2.8 Obesity amongst children in Wiltshire is relatively low and compares well with both the national figures and comparator authorities. However, there are hotspots where obesity levels are high. Healthy eating and exercise have a central part in ensuring good health. A healthy diet and exercise can contribute to improved self-esteem; promote concentration and the improved use of educational opportunities; and encourage fulfilling leisure activities.

Lifestyle choices

10.2.9 Both cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are strongly associated with lifestyles or health behaviours. These lifestyle risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, drug misuse, sexual behaviour, healthy eating, physical activity and obesity. Some of the key current trends are as follows:

• In 2006-2008 20.2% of adults in Wiltshire are smokers compared to 21.4% for the South West region, and 22.2% for England.

• It is estimated that in Wiltshire there are currently 22,115 older people (65 plus) who are obese and that this will increase to 35,848 by 2030.

• Just 14% of adults in Wiltshire have 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days of the week.

• 29.4% of people in Wiltshire meet the healthy eating target of five or more portions of fruit or vegetables a day, a similar percentage to the South West (29.6%) and England (28.7%).

Health inequalities

10.2.10 Although Wiltshire is generally not a deprived area, the county has pockets of deprivation including three local areas that lie amongst the 20% most deprived in England. In addition, aspects of rural deprivation are difficult to quantify yet are of particular relevance in this county, in which proportionally more of the population live in a rural setting.

10.2.11 In 2005-2007, there was a 15% difference in mortality rates between the fifth least deprived and the fifth most deprived wards in the county. This is low compared to other areas but, nevertheless, represents clear inequalities in health outcomes within the local population. Many major conditions are strongly correlated to deprivation as are the lifestyles that contribute to them.

10.2.12 There are a range of wider determinants of health that impact on inequalities including rurality, transport deprivation, service deprivation and housing deprivation. The increased needs of particular groups such as families, young people, the elderly, disabled persons and carers, the military, prisons, black and minority ethnic groups and gypsies and travellers and the way these are met can also affect the inequality gap.

Ageing population

10.2.13 The changing age structure of the Wiltshire population (as discussed in Section 9) will have a significant impact on the health and social care needs of the population, including:

• An increased burden of chronic diseases associated with old age

• An associated increase in demand on health services, including increased numbers of hospital admissions

• Increased uptake of adult social care services across all client groups.

10.2.14 An ageing population will also have an impact on neurological, rheumatologic and orthopaedic conditions, dementia and falls. There are around 41,300 carers in Wiltshire with 77% of these of working age and 20.5% aged over 65. The number of people in Wiltshire in a carer role is expected to increase with a shift in the population structure to that of an ageing population.

Crime and safety

10.2.15 Generally Wiltshire does not appear to be particularly deprived on the crime domain compared to the national picture and national statistics on crime show that the Wiltshire Police area continued to have the second lowest rate of recorded crime in England and Wales, and the lowest in the South West.

Currently, there are three large populated hot-spot areas, namely Salisbury, Chippenham and Trowbridge that are absorbing an intensive amount of resources from police and other agencies and yet are still producing higher levels of crime and disorder than any other area. Of the total number of recorded crimes in Wiltshire between 2009 and July 2010, 3,416 occurred in Salisbury (15.2%), 2,760 were in Chippenham (12.3%) and 3,055 were in Trowbridge (13.6%).

Violence in the community

10.2.16 Violence in the community can have a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of those who fall victim to it, with the nature of offences ranging from minor to fatal. Over the twelve month period August 2009 to July 2010 Wiltshire county suffered 5,066 violent offences which is 11.16 crimes per thousand head of population. Of these, 4,665 were violent attacks against a person such as common assault, Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) and Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH); 328 were sexual offences and 73 were robberies.

10.2.17 The biggest threat of violence to the inhabitants of Wiltshire is caused by the night- time economy where excessive alcohol consumption can play a key role in the orchestration of aggressive behaviour.

10.2.18 At present Wiltshire has the third lowest rate when looking at ‘violent crime’ compared to its 15 most similar areas in England and Wales and the sixth lowest rate when compared against the category of ‘most serious violent crime’.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and criminal damage

10.2.19 ASB often acts as an early warning sign of rising levels of crime. It is a problem of particular concern in Wiltshire because of the visible nature of its impact within communities. It is frequently the sign of community non-cohesion and more serious social problems, from which further crime types will develop if left untreated.

10.2.20 Between August 2009 and July 2010 there were 4,888 criminal incidents of ASB and criminal damage in Wiltshire. More significantly, there were in total nearly 12,000 incidents reported to the police, which ranged from low level public order offences through to criminal damage. Within Wiltshire certain areas like Salisbury, Trowbridge and Chippenham have had consistently high levels of ASB and criminal damage reported. Salisbury has suffered 684 crime incidents, Trowbridge 694 and Chippenham 631 which equates to 41.1% of all ASB and criminal damage crimes in the county.

Road safety

10.2.21 Between August 2009 to July 2010, according to Wiltshire Police records, there were 3,661 road traffic collisions on Wiltshire’s roads. Of these, 2,745 were damage only, 896 injured and 20 fatalities. According to the Casualty Reduction Strategic Assessment 2010, the roads in the county that have the highest probability of a collision resulting in death or serious injury within Wiltshire are the A303, A338 and the A36.

10.2.22 When compared to similar authorities in the south west, Wiltshire has the second highest rate of killed and seriously injured casualties during 2009. However Wiltshire has had a 33% reduction in casualties for 2009 when compared with the 1994-1998 average. In Wiltshire and Swindon there were 325 killed and seriously injured casualties during 2009. In comparison there were 1752 casualties in the southwest overall and 26,906 casualties in the UK.

10.2.23 In addition to the trauma and sometimes life changing injuries caused to those involved there is also a significant cost impact to the county. In Wiltshire during 2009 the total cost has been estimated at £107.2 million.

10.2.24 Salisbury and Trowbridge are two key areas of intensity for road traffic collisions. In addition there are quite clear high volumes of incidents along the main routes and trunk roads across the county. Predominantly the A350 running from the south through to the north of the county, the A303 and the M4. Junction 16 on the M4 (Wootton Bassett) also shows up as an area which has experienced a high volume of incidents.

Fuel poverty

10.2.25 Wiltshire’s private sector stock has a higher than national average percentage of households in receipt of benefits at 21% compared to 17% nationally. This is likely to indicate affordability issues and also has an impact on those households identified to be in fuel poverty; these are identified as households who spend more than 10% of their net household income on heating and hot water.

10.2.26 Not only do dwellings where fuel poverty exists represent dwellings with poor energy efficiency, they are, by definition, occupied by residents with low incomes, least likely

to be able to afford improvements. It is estimated that 20,400 dwellings (12.1%) are in fuel poverty, which represents a substantial number of households and presents issues in terms of both energy efficiency and occupier health.

10.2.27 The council’s Private Sector House Condition Survey (2009) showed that mains gas was present in just 68% of privately owned dwellings compared with 83% nationally. If it is assumed that these figures are representative of all housing, it means that Wiltshire has almost twice the number of dwellings without access to mains gas (32%) compared with the national average (17%). This is significant because carbon emissions from oil are much higher than the equivalent emissions from gas and oil is more expensive to heat a home.

Green Infrastructure (GI)

10.2.28 Wiltshire Council is beginning work on the preparation of a Wiltshire Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy to meet the requirements of national and regional policies, the Wiltshire Local Area Agreement and to provide the framework and evidence base for more detailed GI policies to be included in the emerging Core Strategy. The Strategy will provide a long-term vision and strategic framework for the delivery of a planned, high quality, multi-functional network of GI across Wiltshire.

10.2.29 The objectives of the Strategy in terms of health and wellbeing are as follows:

• Develop opportunities to support healthy lifestyles through the provision of green routes for walking and cycling and multi-functional green spaces for sport, play, recreation and amenity.

• Improve the quality of life for Wiltshire’s communities through place shaping and careful design that brings natural features into neighbourhoods, improving community health and well-being.

• Provide high quality Green Infrastructure that strengthens the connectivity between Wiltshire’s urban and rural landscapes, creating attractive and accessible places for people to enjoy direct and regular contact with the natural environment.

10.2.30 Access to good quality GI has been proven to improve both physical and mental health and well being, contributing to lower levels of obesity, reduced cognitive decline and reduction in health complaints and increase in life expectancy.

10.2.31 Evidence shows that those individuals with a good range of greenspace close to home, particularly children, are less likely to suffer from obesity and related health issues. Providing easily accessible green areas and routes can increase levels of walking, cycling and other physical activity within a community and can help meet the drive towards sustainable active communities. Without regular exercise, there is a decline of function in virtually every system of the body, which will eventually require support from the NHS and social care and would incur cost to society.

10.2.32 GI is also considered to have the potential to contribute to preventing and treating mental health in some cases; for example, there is an estimated 13% reduced risk of cognitive decline for every mile walked per week over a lifetime. Access to nature and more areas for recreation promotes lower blood pressure, reduces stress and attention fatigue and improves mental well being. Furthermore, enjoyment of natural

and semi-natural areas can help people to relax and socially interact, allowing positive benefits to be gained from involvement with, and use of, urban green areas.

10.2.33 GI can also have positive benefits for crime and anti-social behaviour. Studies have shown that the presence of vegetation can halve the incidence of violent and property crimes in otherwise identical public housing, and that crime is lower in inner city areas with more areas of natural vegetation (Kuo and Sullivan, 2001) and natural surveillance.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire Comparable South West England authorities People living in 20% most deprived areas 1.2% - - 19.9% in England Pupils undertaking 3 hours+ school sport 59.5% - - 49.6% a week NI 55 Obesity among primary school age 7.8% 8.6% - 9.6% children in Reception Year NI 56 Obesity among primary school age 14.7% 16.1% - 18.3% children in Year 6 Teenage (under 18) conception rate per 30.9 - - 40.9 1,000 (girls 15-17) Life expectancy – male (years) 79.4 - - 77.9 Life expectancy – female (years) 83.3 - - 82.0 Physically active adults 14.2% - - 11.2% Obese adults 25.0% - - 24.2% Road injuries and deaths per 100,000 66.4 - - 51.3 people (2006-2008)

10.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

10.3.1 Development of the Core Strategy has included research into future infrastructure requirements to meet the needs of housing and employment growth and a growing population. This includes provision of health and social care provision, green infrastructure, recreational, sports and leisure facilities and the need for open space provision. Water, waste, transport and energy infrastructure are also key requirements. These are all key components of healthy communities and the Core Strategy has brought this research forward into one policy, providing an overarching policy for decision-makers, developers and infrastructure providers. This is likely to provide greater certainty and achieve higher levels of infrastructure than existing saved policies.

10.3.2 Wiltshire faces a number of pressures in the future, including an ageing population, increasing levels of obesity and rising fuel prices that will increase levels of fuel poverty. The Core Strategy addresses all these issues through consideration of appropriate infrastructure that can improve health and wellbeing, allowing more people to lead healthy lifestyles.

10.4 Review of key sustainability issues

10.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to this topic which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• Ageing population – this is an acknowledged issue for Wiltshire and will have a significant impact on the health and social care needs of the population, as well as housing and employment provision.

• Fuel poverty - it is estimated that 20,400 dwellings in Wiltshire (12.1%) are in fuel poverty, which represents a substantial number of households and presents issues in terms of both energy efficiency and occupier health. Households energy bills continue to rise above the rate of inflation whilst income levels for many people are not keeping pace.

• Green Infrastructure (GI) provision – the proposed GI Strategy will have an important role in providing, maintaining and enhancing areas that can have significant positive impacts on health and wellbeing, including areas that can help increase participation in sport and recreation and encourage walking and cycling.

10.5 Sustainability objectives

10.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to healthy communities. The current objective is:

• ‘Provide a safe and healthy environment in which to live’.

10.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objective.

11 Topic 10: Inclusive communities

11.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

11.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Wiltshire Council (2010) People, Places and Promises: Wiltshire Community Plan 2011 - 2026

Plan/Programme People, Places and Promises: Wiltshire Community Plan 2011 - 2026 Level Local Document date June 2010 Summary of document People, places and promises is the proposed new Wiltshire Community Plan to take the place of the existing sustainable community strategy. The plan will guide the actions of the many public and voluntary agencies and partnerships that work in the county to work towards making Wiltshire a better place to live and work over the next 15 years. The Wiltshire Assembly has agreed the vision of building stronger more resilient communities and the priorities for achieving this are 1. creating an economy that is fit for the future, 2. reducing disadvantage and inequality, and 3. tackling climate change - but the current climate now makes this more vital than ever. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The plan contains a number of objectives relating to the three priorities listed above. These are briefly: Economy: Strengthen the connectivity of the county Develop a wide consensus on how Wiltshire responds to the UK’s financial difficulties Encourage the restructure of the economy Forge much stronger links with universities Ensure that the establishment of the super garrison on Salisbury Plain brings positive benefits Define a vision for what sort of place Salisbury, Trowbridge and Chippenham should become Ensure that the Wiltshire workforce benefits from better preparation of young people Disadvantage and inequality: Ensure that Wiltshire is able to meet the needs of its rapidly growing older population Address, as far as is possible, the lack of affordable housing Reduce inequality in the county Help people to take more responsibility for their futures Continue to support the thriving voluntary and community sector Climate change: Strongly promote the refitting of all existing public buildings and private homes with energy efficient features Reduce the level and frequency of out-commuting Significantly increase the amount of electricity and heat generated by local renewable schemes Agree a way forward where all can contribute to achieving a major shift to sustainable transport Prepare for and protect vulnerable members of communities from the impacts of unavoidable climate change Explore the extent to which Wiltshire needs to improve its own food security Create a series of living landscapes across the county Overarching: Produce a design framework for the county which encourages the development of communities, not just houses Promote a greater public understanding and ownership of the difficult choices facing Wiltshire Increase public confidence and trust in the police, NHS and council services and the local democratic process

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11.2 Additional baseline information

11.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Resilient communities

11.2.2 Resilient communities are those where we find strong protective social networks and relationships. Essentially, it is where people look out for one another and help when needed. Most often this means people getting involved in their local communities through voluntary activity. Poverty, disadvantage and inequalities can significantly hinder the ability of Wiltshire’s communities to work together to tackle issues.

Poverty and deprivation

11.2.3 As a county, Wiltshire is not a deprived area, although the greatest concentrations of deprivation are in the towns. There are three small areas - two in Trowbridge and one in Salisbury - which are in the top 20% of deprived areas nationally; they are home to slightly more than 5,000 people.

11.2.4 There is scattered deprivation across the whole rural area. Studies have shown that the rural areas of the county have deprived people in almost every community, but that rural areas are less deprived than the larger towns, with the only exception being with respect to access to key services, in particular for older people. This latter situation is partly a result of the geographical isolation of some communities, but also of the decline in many rural services over the last 30 years.

11.2.5 Of the 149 county and unitary authorities in England, Wiltshire ranked as the 140th most deprived in the 2007 Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Wiltshire is ranked among the least deprived 50% in all domain summaries. It is ranked 91st in the scale of income deprivation and 93rd in the scale of employment deprivation. It is in the least deprived 10% in all four other summaries.

11.2.6 There are 281 LSOAs in Wiltshire and no areas are within the most deprived 10% nationally; this was also the case in 2004. The most deprived Wiltshire LSOA is in John of Gaunt ward, Trowbridge. It is ranked 5,033rd in England and is, thus, outside the most deprived 15% nationally.

11.2.7 The most prevalent form of deprivation in Wiltshire relates to barriers to housing and services. About 13% of the county’s LSOAs are within the most deprived 10% in England in this domain, the majority in the east or the south of the county.

11.2.8 Levels of deprivation might not seem significant when compared with other parts of England. However, the variations within Wiltshire are major, with some of the most affluent areas in the county being located right next to the very deprived, those in the bottom 20% of the national score. In addition, rural deprivation is difficult to qualify; given the higher than average proportion of the population living in rural communities in Wiltshire, it is likely that small pockets of rural deprivation will exist that are not highlighted by the IMD.

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Rural areas

11.2.9 Rural communities make up 50% of Wiltshire’s population living in 95% of the geographic area. Rural areas are facing local challenges such as affordable housing, an ageing population, rural isolation, and lesser accessibility. Rural areas have undergone significant economic, social and demographic changes over the last thirty to forty years which has led to a countryside that is generally quite prosperous. Some key changes include the decline of the traditional sectors of employment and the in- migration of urban dwellers.

11.2.10 The Rural Facilities Survey 2008 shows that since 1976, there has been a significant decline in the number of villages that have all four basic facilities (i.e. general food shop, journey to work public transport, post office and primary school). The number of settlements with primary schools has decreased by around 30%, whereas around two thirds of villages have lost their general food shop. Less than half of settlements in 2008 retain the Post Office they had in 1976.

11.2.11 Public transport, however, has improved vastly since 1976. Around 15% more settlements qualified for Level 1 and Level 2 Journey-to-work services in 2008 than in 1976. Against this evidence of decline in local services, mobile sales and services (e.g. food sales, video hire, laundry services, pet food, newspaper and fuel sales) have increased nearly six-fold in the same period, and the number of personal and commercial services within Wiltshire villages has increased from an average of 0.2 per settlement in 1976 to 2.4 per settlement in 2008.

11.2.12 The national trend for closure of public houses is reflected in rural Wiltshire. Research shows that there has been a decline in the number of public houses in rural settlements from 304 in 1994 to 268 by 2005, which is a 12% decline in a relatively short time frame. Now some 35% of settlements have no pub and while this figure is above the national average, the trends do suggest a steady but inexorable decline. There has been little evidence of the diversification into joint facilities as promoted nationally.

11.2.13 In relation to broadband internet, the data collected suggest that all of rural Wiltshire can get some level of access but that the performance gap that exists nationally between rural and urban areas is also present here. In 2008, the government announced a target of universal broadband provision at ‘potential’ speeds of at least 2Mbps by 2012 however; about 40% of the rural geographic area of Wiltshire has potential broadband speeds below 2mbps, compared to around 10% of the urban area (Wiltshire Council 2009/10).

11.2.14 Housing affordability has been an issue of concern for some Wiltshire residents who are contemplating entering the housing market for the first time. The average house price in rural Wiltshire was £295,800 in 2008 whilst in the urban area it was considerably lower at £195,800 (Land Registry 2008). Anecdotal evidence suggests that many younger people and those on lower incomes have been priced out of the villages and towns where they grew up. These trends raise a real threat to our ability to maintain and develop sustainable, mixed and inclusive rural communities.

11.2.15 Access to services in rural areas is also key to prosperous and sustainable communities. When essential services such as hospitals, education, food shop, post office or primary schools are not easily accessible, people run the risk of becoming being socially excluded, especially if they have limited mobility and public transportation is poor. According to the last Census (2001) most households in rural

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areas will have access to a car or a van but about 12% do not (a total of 10,089 households).

11.2.16 The Commission for Rural Communities’ Rural Data Series (2009) shows that:

- 8% of rural households in Wiltshire live more than 6kms from a principal GP site and 4% live more than 14kms from a hospital.

- 2% of households in rural areas live more than 4km from a primary school, 31% live more than 6kms from a secondary school and 56% live more than 10kms from a principal job centre.

- 4% of households are more than 4kms from a post office, 30% are more than 4kms from a convenience store, 37% are more than 4kms from a supermarket and 30% are more than 4km from a free cash machine.

11.2.17 Analysis was carried out on Wiltshire Council’s People’s Voice surveys and there is no discernible difference between the responses of people living in rural areas and those living in urban areas. However the Wiltshire Household survey 2009 shows some marked differences:

- 73% of respondents in Wiltshire’s rural areas felt that they were satisfied (very satisfied or fairly satisfied) with their home a place to live; a higher proportion than those living in urban areas (55%).

- 77% of respondents in Wiltshire’s rural areas said that they felt safe (very safe or fairly safe) in their local area after dark; a higher proportion than those living in urban areas (50%).

- 42% of respondents in Wiltshire’s rural areas felt that they were satisfied (very satisfied or fairly satisfied) with the local bus services; a lower proportion than those living in urban areas (51%).

House prices in Wiltshire

11.2.18 Wiltshire is a popular area in which to live and its close proximity to several larger urban employment areas outside its boundary means that many people out-commute to better-paid jobs. This shows up in the difference between higher residence-based incomes, and somewhat lower Wiltshire work-based incomes. This same pattern feeds through into the affordability of house prices. Wiltshire has a higher house price to income ratio (7.3:1) than either the region (7.2:1) or the nation (6.3:1).

11.2.19 Wiltshire, along with Dorset and Bath and North East Somerset, has the biggest gap in the South West between the affordability of houses for resident and workplace employees. Latest figures show that due to the shortage of affordable housing in the county, 11,808 people are on the housing register in August 2010.

Health

11.2.20 The correlation between deprivation and poor health is well documented. In Type 2 diabetes, which is preventable in two thirds of people who have it, life expectancy is reduced by up to 10 years. It is estimated that around 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, as opposed to type 1 diabetes, which is less preventable.

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Diabetes is much more common in some ethnic minority groups and lower socio- economic groups.

11.2.21 The rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions is higher in the south of the county, and there is a strong correlation with levels of deprivation, with almost twice the level of admissions in the more deprived areas in the county.

Access to services

11.2.22 As a sparsely populated, rural county, access to services is a major issue especially for those living in the rural areas that do not have access to a car. The national Indices of Deprivation 2007 (DCLG) shows that the most prevalent category of deprivation in Wiltshire relates to ‘Barriers to Housing and Services’ and 13% of the county’s local super output areas (LSOAs) are within the top 10% most deprived of such areas nationally, including a quarter of the former Kennet district’s LSOAs and a fifth of those in the former Salisbury district.

Local involvement in decision-making

11.2.23 In resilient communities, residents have avenues open to them to express their opinions in a productive and positive manner. Results from the DCLG Place Survey 2008 showed that 31.7% of people in Wiltshire felt that they could influence decisions in their locality, compared to 29% nationally (NI 4). Although Wiltshire’s results compare favourably with the national average, nevertheless, supporting local decision-making still features in the Resilient Communities Partnership Strategic Plan 2010-2013.

Participation in arts and culture

11.2.24 Arts and culture make a significant contribution to the development of more resilient communities. A vibrant arts and culture community provides numerous benefits: enhances quality of life; creates jobs; acts as a catalyst for revitalising neighbourhoods and community development; builds opportunities for youth and education; and helps generate civic and community pride. In terms of return on investment in arts organisations, local research has shown that there is an £11 return for every £1 of public money invested.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire Comparable South West England authorities NI 7: Environment for a thriving third 18.2% - - 16.2% sector NI 4: People who feel they can influence 31.7% - - 29% decisions in their locality

11.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

11.3.1 A reliance on existing saved policies is unlikely to achieve greater benefits for social inclusion and reducing poverty and deprivation. Planning can play an important role in reducing social exclusion through locating developments in areas that have good access to a range of services and facilities, ensuring that there are good sustainable transport links, especially to/from town centres, and by ensuring that development contributes in terms of providing the range of services and facilities that people need.

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11.3.2 The Core Strategy will indirectly influence household income, employment levels and social inclusion through allocating land for housing and employment uses and being proactive in helping local businesses to expand and other businesses to locate in Wiltshire. This is the main way the Core Strategy can influence levels of poverty and deprivation.

11.4 Review of key sustainability issues

11.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to inclusive communities which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• Access to services is a major issue for many people, particularly those living in rural areas. Rural services have been affected by the changing composition of village populations i.e. influx of urban dwellers to rural areas. These former urban dwellers tend to be extremely mobile and are not reliant on local shops or facilities, including public transport. Less demand for local services has therefore contributed to the decline of these services. At the same time, many local residents, especially the elderly, disabled and those on low income, are often still dependent on them.

• Rural deprivation, which can take either a dispersed or concentrated form, can often be overlooked due to the relative greater prosperity and income diversity of many rural areas. This is because deprivation data is focused on an area based approach rather than the location of deprived individuals.

• Lack of affordable rural housing continues to be an issue for rural communities. The danger is that community life in many villages and market towns could face real challenges if first time buyers (mainly young people) continue to be priced out of the areas where they grew up by an influx of wealthy commuters, second home owners and retired couples.

11.5 Sustainability objectives

11.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – two of which relate to inclusive communities. The current objectives are:

• ‘Reduce poverty and deprivation and promote more inclusive and self- contained communities’

• ‘Improve equality of access to, and engagement in local, high-quality community services and facilities’

11.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objectives.

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12 Topic 11: Education and skills

12.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

12.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Children and Young People in Wiltshire Needs Assessment (Wiltshire Children’s Stakeholder Partnership, 2011)

Plan/Programme Children and Young People in Wiltshire Needs Assessment Level Local - Wiltshire Children’s Stakeholder Partnership Document date July 2011 Summary of document This assessment has been compiled to inform the work of the Wiltshire Children’s Stakeholder Partnership and Children and Young Peoples Commissioning Executive to support the Wiltshire Children and Young People’s Plan. The data used is mainly from the financial year 2010 / 2011. The needs assessment provides an overview of the needs which will be addressed in the future through effective commissioning and provision of services for all children and young people. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions 10 priority areas have been identified, developed from an extended consultation process during 2007/08 with a wide range of stakeholders to answer the question: ‘What can we do together that will bring about the biggest improvements in outcomes for our children & young people?’. These are: • Promoting resilience • Supporting mental well-being - overcoming emotional & behavioural problems. • Raising achievement – closing the gap • Disabled children & young people • NEET (Young people not in Education, Employment or Training) • Things to do – places to go – people to talk to • Tackling domestic abuse • Obesity, healthy eating & exercise • Substance misuse • Sexual health

The 2008-2011 Wiltshire Children and Young People’s Plan (Working together – to improve outcomes) can be viewed on the partnership website – www.wiltshirepathways.org

12.2 Additional baseline information

12.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Qualifications and school attainment

School attainment

12.2.2 In 2009, Wiltshire's educational results were good for four year olds and generally good for 16 year olds. However, results for 11 year olds and pupils from vulnerable groups for both 11 and 16 year olds were not good. The percentage of pupils with

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Special Educational Needs achieving Key Stage (KS) 2 in English and mathematics was 54.5% lower than pupils without Special Educational Needs. This gap was larger than for comparator authorities or England.

12.2.3 The 2010 GCSE or equivalent results reveal that Wiltshire performed below the national and regional average with 70.8% of pupils in their last year of compulsory education (15/16 year olds) achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A* to C. In contrast, the proportion of Wiltshire pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and Mathematics was 55.8%, marginally above both the national and regional averages. Girls continue to out-perform boys in both categories with 75.4% of girls attaining a minimum of 5 GSCEs or equivalent compared to 66.5% for boys and 60.1% of girls attain this level including maths and English as opposed to 51.6% of boys.

12.2.4 The 2010 Key Stage 2 (age 11) results for Wiltshire show that attainment levels in the county are better or on a par with England and regional averages in key subject areas. Wiltshire is therefore performing well and equipping its future workforce with the basic skills although there is still room for improvement.

Qualifications of working age population

12.2.5 Wiltshire has a higher proportion of its working age population with qualifications at NVQ levels 3 and 4+ than nationally and regionally; 55.6% of residents are qualified to these higher levels compared to 51.3% across the South West and 49.38% across the UK. In addition, the County has a relatively low share of its working age population with lower level or no qualifications (i.e. No qualifications or NVQ level 1); 14.5% compared with the regional figure of 15.9% and UK figure of 21.3%.

12.2.6 Between 2007 and 2009, the proportion of people qualified to NVQ4 and above rose by some 4.3%, by 5.3% for those qualified to NVQ3 or above and by 4.8% for those qualified to NVQ 2 or above. There could be a variety of reasons to explain this significant increase; these include:

• the strengthening of the college network in Wiltshire to deliver increasing numbers of higher level NVQ qualifications as well as degrees in association with neighbouring Universities; • the impact of the recession in encouraging young people to remain in education • larger numbers of graduates returning to the parental home whilst they look for work as well as the general attractiveness of the county as a place to live.

12.2.7 In addition, over the period and arguably as a consequence, there were fewer residents with ‘other’ or no qualifications as a percentage of the working age population as well as in absolute terms suggesting that there has also been progression within this cohort of the population into higher qualifications. This has also been achieved to a much greater extent than experienced across the country as a whole.

12.2.8 Appropriate basic skills are a fundamental building block of personal development and economic prosperity. Low literacy and numeracy skills have not only been linked to social exclusion and low incomes, but they have also been cited as being contributory factors of low productivity and slow economic growth.

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Young people not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET)

12.2.9 The NEET figure for Wiltshire, based on the period November 2010 to January 2011 was 6.8% and equates to 732 young people based on a total 16-18 cohort of 12,500. This is appreciably higher than that found nationally, regionally and compared to a defined group of other local authorities known as “Statistical Neighbours‟ which are similar to Wiltshire in terms of size, economy, rural to urban mix and education attainment of young people (see table below).

Location %16-18 year olds, January 2011 Not known In learning NEET NEET average Nov 2010-Jan 2011 Wiltshire 3.9% 81.3% 6.8% 6.8% South West 2.4% 83.6% 5.3% 5.3% England 3.9% 84.1% 5.9% 6.0% Statistical neighbours 3.5% 82.0% 5.3% 5.5% Source: DfE January 2011

12.2.10 Of the 732 16-18 year olds NEET in January 2011, 169 (17%) were not able to take up employment or learning, the majority of these were expectant or young mothers. This is only slightly higher than the averages in other areas. A number of those who are NEET and available have a job or education place lined up to start the following month (i.e. they are not doing nothing).

12.2.11 In terms of NEET performance as measured as an average between November 2010 and January 2011 average, levels for the South West, England and Statistical Neighbour averages were slightly down over last year. In contrast, the average compared to the previous year for Wiltshire, Devon, North Somerset, Plymouth, Torbay (South West region neighbours) and Shropshire (statistical neighbour) all increased slightly.

12.2.12 The NEET group however is not static in terms of the same young people being NEET all the time and there is churn each month in terms of joiners and leavers; for example, in January 2011, 105 16-18 year olds joined the NEET cohort and 102 left. Further education (college and 6th forms) contribute more young people to NEET than they recruit from NEET (apart from September which is the start of the academic year) but the pattern with employment shows that as many join NEET from employment, many leave NEET into employment. This indicates that many jobs taken by 16-18 year olds are often temporary; either genuinely short contract or seasonal jobs or the young people move between jobs until they settle.

12.2.13 This analysis highlights a few specific issues for Wiltshire. The county has a higher than average number of expectant young mothers in the NEET cohort suggesting that additional work in schools and with youth groups could be undertaken. The recent recession has greatly reduced the job opportunities available to the young and the availability of even seasonal and temporary jobs is expected to be limited and subject to increased competition. All work experience is valuable, however temporary and seasonal work will afford variable experiences in terms of quality and training received. Finally, in times of economic downturn, more young people may be expected to stay in education as they cannot compete in the job market. Entry into higher education however may be less attractive given the increase in University tuition fees which may offset increased NEET levels to some extents but may will lead to higher levels of „unemployment‟ at aged 18 and over. It will never be possible

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to eradicate the NEET status but Wiltshire should look to try and establish a steady rate of NEET and EET within the economic system.

Workplace skills

12.2.14 Traditionally, Wiltshire has been dominated by low value, low skilled manufacturing and service sectors, but this is unsustainable in the future. As a result it has become an attractive county for the higher skilled and higher paid in which to live, but not to work. In addition, a large proportion of employment in the county is within the public sector and this will fall as government cuts are realised.

12.2.15 By broadening the employment base, the aim is to address these weaknesses and develop a sector profile which will be competitive in the future and also offer quality employment opportunities for all residents and thereby reduce outcommuting.

12.2.16 The skills base of Wiltshire is relatively polarised with a high proportion of residents with high skills levels, but equally a significant proportion with poor basic skills and, as a result of the recession, increasing unemployment levels and a worsening ‘not in Employment, Education or Training’ (NEET) issue amongst young people.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire Comparable South West England authorities Attainment of 5+ GCSE grades A*-C 2008 64.5% - 62.7% 64.8% Attainment of 5+ GCSE grades A*-C 53.0% - 48.8% 47.3% including Maths and English 2008 NI 73 Achievement at level 4 or above in 71% 72.4% - 72% both English and maths at Key Stage 2 (2008/9) % of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in 82% - 81% 81% Key Stage 2 in English in 2010 % of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in 80% - 80% 80% Key Stage 2 in Maths in 2010 % of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in 86% - 86% 85% Key Stage 2 in Science in 2010 NI 101 Children in care achieving five A*- 14.3% 7.6% - 9.8% C GCSEs (or equivalent) at Key Stage 4 (including English and maths) (2008/9) 6.8% 5.3% 5.3% 5.9% NI 117 16 to 18 year olds who are NEET (2010/11) % with NVQ4+ aged 16-64 (2009) 33.1% - 29.1% 29.6% % with NVQ3+ aged 16-64 (2009) 55.6% - 51.3% 48.9% % with NVQ2+ aged 16-64 (2009) 71.1% - 68.8% 65.0% % with NVQ1+ aged 16-64 (2009) 85.5% - 84.1% 79.0% % with no qualifications aged 16-64 7.0% - 8.7% 12.1% (2009)

12.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

12.3.1 Without updated and revised policy through the Core Strategy and associated research into employment land demand, future need for land is unlikely to be met for local businesses and those businesses wanting to move to the area. This will have a

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detrimental impact on employment and subsequent skills levels and training/apprenticeship opportunities.

12.3.2 Future housing growth in Wiltshire may not provide necessary developer contributions towards educational provision if relying on current policies that are inconsistent, and in some cases non-existent, across the former district council areas.

12.4 Review of key sustainability issues

12.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to education and skills which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• Traditionally, Wiltshire has been dominated by low value, low skilled manufacturing and service sectors, but this is unsustainable in the future. As a result it has become an attractive county for the higher skilled and higher paid in which to live, but not to work. In addition, a large proportion of employment in the county is within the public sector and this will fall as government cuts are realised.

By broadening the employment base, this will address these weaknesses and develop a sector profile which will be competitive in the future and also offer quality employment opportunities for all residents, thereby reducing outcommuting.

• The skills base of Wiltshire is relatively polarised with a high proportion of residents with high skills levels, but equally a significant proportion with poor basic skills and, as a result of the recession, increasing unemployment levels and a worsening ‘not in Employment, Education or Training’ (NEET) issue amongst young people.

• As with the UK, there is evidence that new young labour market entrants in Wiltshire lack the skills they need for employment. Skill losses brought about by staff retirements are often very hard to replace and the ‘older than average’ composition of the Wiltshire workforce means that this is likely to affect the area more than elsewhere (and increasingly so). The most frequently mentioned skills that employers in Wiltshire felt were lacking were:

- team working; - oral communication; - technical skills.

Nearly a third of employers also believe that their staff (of those with skills gaps) ‘lacked motivation’.

12.5 Sustainability objectives

12.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to education and skills. The current objective is:

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• ‘Raise educational attainment levels across the authority and provide opportunities for people to improve their workplace skills’

12.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objective.

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13 Topic 12: Transport

13.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

13.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 (Wiltshire Council, 2011)

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2011 – 2026 Level Local (Wiltshire Council) Document date March 2011 Summary of document The LTP steers the implementation of national transport policies at the local level. As a strategic document, the LTP does not contain details of schemes. Rather, it sets out a long-term transport strategy, a shorter-term implementation plan and a number of supporting strategies. The Vision for the long-term transport strategy in Wiltshire is: ‘To develop a transport system which helps support economic growth across Wiltshire’s communities, giving choice and opportunity for people to safely access essential services. Transport solutions will be sensitive to the built and natural environment, with a particular emphasis on the need to reduce carbon emissions’. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The government sets out five national transport goals which are expected to act as the over-arching priorities for LTPs: Support economic growth; reduce carbon emissions; contribute to better safety, security and health; promote equality of opportunity; improve quality of life and a healthy natural environment. A number of local strategic transport objectives have been developed to sit underneath the goals to more clearly reflect local circumstances: ∆ SO1 To support and help improve the vitality, viability and resilience of Wiltshire’s economy and market towns. ∆ SO4 To minimise traffic delays and disruption and improve journey time reliability on key routes. ∆ SO6 To make the best use of the existing infrastructure through effective design, management and maintenance. ∆ SO10 To encourage the efficient and sustainable distribution of freight in Wiltshire. ∆ SO12 To support planned growth in Wiltshire and ensure that new developments adequately provide for their sustainable transport requirements and mitigate their traffic impacts. ∆ SO16 To improve the resilience of the transport system to impacts such as adverse weather, climate change and peak oil. ∆ SO2 To provide, support and promote a choice of sustainable transport alternatives. ∆ SO11 To reduce the level of air pollutant and climate change emissions from transport. ∆ SO13 To reduce the need to travel, particularly by private car. ∆ SO8 To improve safety for all road users and to reduce the number of casualties on Wiltshire’s roads. ∆ SO9 To reduce the impact of traffic speeds in towns and villages. ∆ SO14 To promote travel modes that are beneficial to health. ∆ SO5 To improve sustainable access to a full range of opportunities particularly for those people without access to a car. ∆ SO15 To reduce barriers to transport and access for people with disabilities and mobility impairment. ∆ SO3 To reduce the impact of traffic on people’s quality of life and Wiltshire’s built and natural environment. ∆ SO7 To enhance Wiltshire’s public realm and streetscene. ∆ SO17 To improve access to Wiltshire’s countryside and provide a more useable public rights of way network. ∆ SO18 To enhance the journey experience of transport users.

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13.2 Additional baseline information

13.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Background information

13.2.2 The large area covered by the county, and its geographic position in relation to nearby major economic centres, results in a wide range of transport related problems and issues which need addressing and resolving. Due to its rural nature, the area has a vast network of country lanes and other rural routes, many of which have evolved from historic tracks or droving routes. Consequently, many of these routes are unsuitable for coping with modern day traffic, particularly HGVs. Wiltshire Council has the opportunity to limit the impact of traffic in rural areas, through such measures as the introduction of speed limits in rural communities and working with freight operators.

13.2.3 Land use planning has a key role in delivering the Government’s integrated transport strategy. By shaping the pattern of development and influencing the location, scale, density, design and mix of land uses, planning can help to reduce the need to travel, reduce the length of journeys and make it safer and easier for people to access jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking, and cycling. Consistent application of these planning policies will help to reduce some of the need for car journeys by reducing the physical separation of key land uses and enabling people to make sustainable transport choices.

13.2.4 However, distortion of costs caused by decisions in other policy areas, such as health and education, must be taken into account. For example, as health facilities have become more centralised to achieve economies of scale, access has become increasingly car-oriented. Likewise, policies giving parents a choice of school have complicated travel patterns and increased car travel. The result has been to shift the cost of access away from the institution onto the individual. So while infrastructure provision may appear cheaper on paper, by externalising the transport costs it is often those in society who are least able to pay who are picking up the bill.

13.2.5 New development proposed as part of the Core Strategy will be predominantly centred on the principle towns of Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury where a greater degree of self containment can be achieved. However, some growth will also occur in the other market towns and smaller towns and villages. The continuation of high house prices and the increasing trend towards single person households may also contribute to greater commuting distances and more dispersed transport needs.

Wiltshire's transport network

13.2.6 Wiltshire Council is responsible for maintaining 4,381 km of road in the county. Previous under investment provided to the former County Council for road maintenance, as well as increased wear and tear on the highway network through increased traffic volumes, has led to sections of the network being below national standards for structural condition and skid resistance. Road maintenance also often

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leads to acute local congestion and increased journey time unreliability; which can have a major detrimental effect on the local economy.

13.2.7 Some of the main highway routes in the county are unsuited to the volume and weight of traffic carried and this has given rise to some local congestion, relatively low inter-urban journey speeds and journey time reliability issues. This has resulted in some societal impacts such as community severance and environmental impacts in terms of increases in vehicle emissions and air pollution. In both urban communities and rural areas, such conditions can devalue the quality of life and act as a major inhibitor to walking and cycling through increased and perceived dangers, and to public transport by increasing journey times on services.

Air quality

13.2.8 Local authorities have a duty under the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess local air quality within their areas against a set of health-based objectives for a number of specific air pollutants. Where exceedences of these objectives are identified, authorities are then required to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and to prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out measures they intend to introduce in order to reduce concentrations of air pollutants.

13.2.9 While air quality across Wiltshire is generally good, AQMAs have been declared in a number of locations (see section 5.2) as a result of air pollution caused by traffic. The latest Air Quality Action Planning Progress Report integrates the reporting duties for the former district councils into a single document and shows progress on implementing the respective AQAPs; the council is currently working towards the integration of these currently separate AQAPs into a single document. Regular and ongoing dialogue on air quality issues is achieved through the Wiltshire Local Air Quality Management Officers Working Group.

13.2.10 While the above process satisfies the statutory requirements of the Act, the council recognised the need to develop a more holistic and unified approach to managing local air quality. Therefore, consultants were commissioned to develop a Wiltshire Air Quality Core Strategy which was subject to consultation in early 2010. This work continues and further consultation and evidence will inform the sustainability appraisal process.

Car ownership

13.2.11 Car ownership has a direct impact on the ability of individuals to access key goods, services and employment. Car ownership is expected to continue to increase in the UK as incomes rise, cars become more affordable, more women learn to drive and households become smaller. There is a saturation point in car ownership, but we have not yet reached this in the UK.

13.2.12 Car ownership is high in Wiltshire reflecting the rural nature of the county. Between 1981 and 2001 there was a 92% increase in the number of cars in Wiltshire, and in 2001 just 16% of households did not have access to a car. However, there are clear geographic differences in the distribution of households without access to cars (see table below). Over one in four households without access to cars compared to less than one in ten in Southern Wiltshire.

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13.2.13 Car ownership is generally higher among low-income households in rural areas where cars are viewed as a necessity, rather than amongst low-income families in urban areas where can be seen as a luxury. Car ownership in urban areas tends to be lower, partly because there is usually a concentration of deprivation, but also because transport by other means is more viable, although limited chargeable parking and congestion may constrain usage. To this end the future growth of Wiltshire's largest towns should be about creating more favourable conditions for people to be less reliant on the car.

Percentage of Wiltshire households without access to a car or van in 2001

13.2.14 Car ownership is typically linked to car usage and so with rising car ownership comes rising car usage and in Wiltshire it is expected to rise from 17%-28% from now until 2025.

13.2.15 In a rural area such as Wiltshire, encouraging modal shift or reducing travel demand can be difficult. However, in the larger settlements, particularly Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge, there is more scope to do so. Some smaller towns such as Westbury, Bradford on Avon and Warminster also have a higher degree of connectivity.

Public transport

13.2.16 Public transport in Wiltshire accounts for 6% of journeys to work, which is a greater proportion than the average for the south west. However, this is half the national average suggesting scope for public transport to carry a greater proportion of trips in the county.

13.2.17 Increasing car ownership levels have given rise to greater flexibility for many social, leisure and employment activities as well as many facilities now being located on the

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edge of urban areas. Public transport is mostly unable to meet these changes, both in terms of service frequency and geographic coverage, thus leaving those without access to a car disadvantaged. For many trips there is no public transport alternative, or, the cost and perceived inconvenience leads car owners to choose to bear the marginal extra motoring costs.

Bus travel

13.2.18 Bus services in Wiltshire are provided for by many different companies, with no single company being dominant across the county. The majority of services are provided on a commercial basis with the remainder being tendered revenue supported services. The tendered services are usually found in the rural areas and/or outside normal daytime hours, mainly being early morning, evening or Sunday services.

13.2.19 There has been significant growth in bus use in Wiltshire, which increased from 8.7 million passenger trips per annum in 2003/4 to 12.3 million passenger trips per annum in 2008/9 before falling back to 10.4 million in 2009/10 mainly as a result of the recession. These increases are largely as a result of the introduction of free travel for older people, but development of the Park & Ride services in Salisbury, and partnership schemes with the main operators to improve ridership on their commercial services, such as Kickstart improvements to the Chippenham-Swindon route, the Salisbury Area and Active8 Quality Partnerships, have also contributed to this growth.

13.2.20 The proportion of the rural population with access to an hourly or better weekday bus service has fallen from 64% to 54% between 2003/04 and 2007/08 and the proportion with at least a daily weekday daytime service has remained around 90% during the same period (see table below).

Bus usage in Wiltshire 2003/04-2007/08

Indicator Period Bus usage Proportion of rural households within 800m of a bus 2003/2004 90% stop with a daily or better bus service 2004/2005 90% 2005/2006 90% 2006/2007 90% 2007/2008 91% Proportion of rural households within 800m of a bus 2003/2004 64% stop with an hourly or better bus service 2004/2005 65% 2005/2006 66% 2006/2007 53% 2007/2008 54% Number of bus passenger journeys (millions) 2003/2004 8.76 2004/2005 9.3 2005/2006 9.74 2006/2007 11.69 2007/2008 12.04

13.2.21 The proportion of bus routes operated by low floor vehicles has increased from 11% in 2005/06 to 21% in 2007. However, both figures appear low due to the relatively large number of small rural and school services, which are less likely to be a priority for low floor conversion. The proportion of Key Bus Route services that were low floor operated in 2007 was 64% compared to 41% in 2005.

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13.2.22 Currently around a third of services are subsidised by Wiltshire Council, which is a significant demand on the annual revenue budget. Additionally tender prices have risen considerably over recent years due in part to the lack of qualified bus drivers and rising fuel prices. Future increases in tender prices pose a real threat to maintaining the existing coverage of bus services in the county.

13.2.23 The most recent progress report (2008) shows that while bus punctuality remains on track the impact of slowly rising traffic levels on the road network as a whole is beginning to have an effect on bus service reliability, and several routes have required additional running time to be inserted in the timetable. On at least one route this has led to significantly increased costs as an extra vehicle was required to maintain the existing regular frequency.

Community transport

13.2.24 Community and voluntary transport schemes play an important role in supplementing conventional services where socially necessary needs cannot be provided in cost effective manner. The council provided £330,000 of funding for community transport in 2010/11.

13.2.25 There are currently 24 community minibus schemes in the county, carrying 250,000 single passenger trips a year. The majority are small scale and locally based, providing a service predominantly for older and less able residents, including those who travel in a wheelchair, who cannot, or who find it difficult, to use ordinary public transport.

13.2.26 There is an extensive network of over 40 'Link' good neighbour schemes in Wiltshire, providing, as part of the 'good neighbour' remit, social car coverage to 98% of rural households.

Passenger rail

13.2.27 Rail travel is increasingly popular in Wiltshire. Monitoring of rail patronage in Wiltshire has indicated a sustained growth in the number of rail passenger journeys over recent years. The LTP 2008 progress report indicates that rail passenger trips have increased by 17% since 2003, despite a slight decrease in 2007, as shown in the following table. This was due to timetable changes following the award of the new Great Western Franchise.

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Rail growth in Wiltshire - passenger counts, 2001-2008

Transport interchanges

13.2.28 Transport interchanges across Wiltshire are generally of a low standard with considerable investment required to create quality facilities. Recent improvements include enhancements to the main bus interchange in Trowbridge town centre for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, and improvements to Chippenham station forecourt which now provides better integration of bus and rail services.

Parking

13.2.29 The car parking strategy in Wiltshire was subject to a review in 2010 and as a strategy it seeks to find a balance between supporting economic growth and being an effective demand management tool to encourage the use of sustainable transport alternatives. The majority of parking within Wiltshire’s market towns and villages is off-street, publicly operated car parks and/or on-street parking. Typically, the parking stock is supplemented by large car parks operated by supermarkets and other smaller privately operated car parks.

Freight management

13.2.30 Road freight distribution by the use of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV), smaller lorries and vans are by far the most widely used form of distributing freight in the county. Approximately 85% of freight in Wiltshire is distributed via this means, which is in line with national distribution patterns.

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13.2.31 Due to the rural nature of the county, freight movements have a noticeable impact upon the road network, as the roads which are used to access businesses and homes are, in instances, neither designed or always suitable for freight movements.

13.2.32 The need to provide an efficient distribution system can have an adverse impact on the local environment. This has resulted in increased vehicle emissions from road based freight traffic, increased noise, vibration, pollution, and deteriorating air quality. It also results in freight vehicles using inappropriate roads in sensitive rural areas or along residential roads. Work through the Freight Quality Partnership and the Freight Assessment Priority Mechanism seek to ensure that not only is best practice followed by the freight industry but that congestion and safety is reduced through better a managed road network for HGV's and other delivery vehicles.

13.2.33 A study by the former Wiltshire County Council, found that 86% of freight trains in Wiltshire travel through the county and there are no rail freight movements with both end trips in Wiltshire. Freight movements in the county consist predominantly of the Somerset quarry traffic routed via Westbury to London or Wootton Bassett. There is also movement of oil tanks through the county from Hampshire and freight movements from Avonmouth/Portishead and South Wales on the Great Western mainline, as well as freight from Didcot in the other direction towards Cardiff.

13.2.34 Rail freight can provide distinct benefits to business, society and local authorities over road based transport. Road based congestion and associated road maintenance could be reduced if significant transfer to rail could be achieved. However, rails biggest advantage is the environmental benefits that can be achieved. Using rail freight produces 3.4 times less CO2 per tonne-km than road transport, which means that switching to rail freight gives a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the equivalent road journey.

13.2.35 There is currently no known movement of freight on the canal system in Wiltshire. The canals are primarily used for leisure and recreational purposes.

Walking and cycling

13.2.36 Walking is not as extensively studied as motor vehicle traffic, and useful information on the extent and purpose of walking journeys is limited. From the 2001 census, about 16% of journeys to work by residents of urban areas in Wiltshire were made on foot. Overall, the proportion of journeys to school made on foot is close to the regional average, and has been recently increasing slowly.

13.2.37 Within the UK there are great variations with the highest rates of cycling to work seen in Cambridgeshire (10% in 2001) and Oxfordshire (8%). Wiltshire has slightly higher than average levels with 4% of people cycling to work in 2001 compared to 3% across England. However, the number of cycling trips in Wiltshire has remained fairly stable since 2001 which is similar to national trends.

13.2.38 Research shows that cycling is more popular in higher income households. Wiltshire’s relative affluence and high levels of cycle ownership offer a good opportunity to increase levels of cycling. The council will continue though the LTP process and developer contributions, to seek opportunities for the development of the defined pedestrian and cycle networks for each of the main towns, as well as the programme of pedestrian and town centre accessibility improvements.

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Key indicator table

Wiltshire Comparable South West England authorities Average journey time per mile on A roads 1:88 - 2:09 2:40 (min:sec) 2009-2010 Bus journeys originating per head of 27 - 41 - population (annual 2008-2009) Proportion of travel to school by car 32% - 30% 31% (5-15 age group) 2008-2009 Carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 2.2 - 1.8 1.7 road transport (tonnes)

13.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

13.3.1 It is likely that current trends of increasing car use, particularly to and from work, and levels of out-commuting will continue and increase without implementation of the Core Strategy. This may reduce the availability and viability of public transport services throughout Wiltshire, therefore helping to increase traffic on the highway network, resulting in pressure to build new roads.

13.3.2 Promotion of sustainable transport – including walking, cycling and public transport – which the Core Strategy does alongside the Local Transport Plan, will help reduce the pressures on Wiltshire’s roads and may bring forward alternative and more attractive schemes that will allow people a real choice.

13.3.3 The need to travel is influenced strongly by the location of housing and jobs and proximity of local services and facilities. Regeneration of town centres and building at higher densities in sustainable locations can all help the viability of public transport and allow investment in walking and cycling routes.

13.4 Review of key sustainability issues

13.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to transport which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• The significantly ageing population will present significant access challenges to service providers.

• Air quality – all of the Air Quality Management Areas designated in Wiltshire are as a result of emissions caused by traffic. Progress on resolving these issues will continue through regular and ongoing dialogue through the Wiltshire Local Air Quality Management Officers Working Group.

• Funding for transport from central government in the short to medium term is being reduced – this will reduce opportunities for the council to invest in public transport and other essential transport infrastructure.

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• Some of the main highway routes in the county are unsuited to the volume and weight of traffic carried and this has given rise to some local congestion, relatively low inter-urban journey speeds and journey time reliability issues.

• The strategic transport network will require enhancing/improving to cope with increased residential/employment development. In particular, the A350 national primary route will need enhancement in places. The A350 corridor links five major towns in the west of Wiltshire - Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster; it carries the highest volume of traffic and HGV movements on the county's non-trunk road primary routes and is strategically important.

• Car ownership is high in Wiltshire reflecting the rural nature of the county. Between 1981 and 2001 there was a 92% increase in the number of cars in Wiltshire, and in 2001 just 16% of households did not have access to a car. However, there are clear geographic differences in the distribution of households without access to cars with those living in the most remote areas having a higher degree of car ownership, often out of necessity.

• Public transport is mostly unable to compete with changes in car ownership, both in terms of service frequency and geographic coverage, thus leaving those without access to a car disadvantaged. Public transport in Wiltshire accounts for 6% of journeys to work and this is half the national average.

• Currently around a third of services are subsidised by Wiltshire Council, which is a significant demand on the annual revenue budget. Additionally tender prices have risen considerably over recent years due in part to the lack of qualified bus drivers and rising fuel prices. Future increases in tender prices pose a real threat to maintaining the existing coverage of bus services in the county.

• Due to the rural nature of the county, freight movements have a noticeable impact upon the road network, as the roads which are used to access businesses and homes are, in instances, neither designed or always suitable for freight movements.

• The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site is internationally important for its complexes of outstanding prehistoric monuments. However, the presence of busy main roads going through the Site impacts adversely on its integrity. The roads sever the relationship between Stonehenge and its surrounding monuments, notably the A344 which separates the Stone Circle from the Avenue. At Avebury, roads cut through some key monuments including the Henge and the West Kennet Avenue. The A4 separates the Sanctuary from its barrow group at Overton Hill. Roads and vehicles also cause damage to the fabric of some monuments while traffic noise and visual intrusion have a negative impact on their settings. The incremental impact of highway-related clutter needs to be carefully managed.

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13.5 Sustainability objectives

13.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – one of which relates to transport. The current objective is:

• ‘Reduce the need to travel and promote more sustainable transport choices’

13.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objective.

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14 Topic 13: Economy and enterprise

14.1 Additional policies, plans, programmes and sustainability objectives

14.1.1 The following additional policies, plans and programmes are considered relevant to inform the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy:

• Wiltshire Council Corporate Plan (2010) • Wiltshire Workspace and Employment Land Strategy (2009/10) • Future employment needs in Wiltshire – Employment floorspace and land forecasts (2011) • The Wiltshire Strategic Economic Assessment 2007/2008 • Transforming Trowbridge • Chippenham Vision • Mid –Wiltshire Economic Strategy 2009 – 2014 • North Wiltshire Economic Strategy 2009 -2014

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Council Corporate Plan 2010-2014 Level Local Document date 2010 Summary of document This is Wiltshire Council’s first corporate plan which sets out what they hope to achieve up to 2014. This plan sets out the priorities and outcomes for the next four years. It was approved by council and adopted as policy in May 2010. It states ‘We already know that we will have to make significant savings and efficiencies to contribute to the reduction in the national debt and many new policies will affect our future work. There are also many changes that are still occurring as a result of local government reorganisation a year ago. As a new ambitious unitary authority we are well placed to build on the strong foundations we have established in our first year. This will allow us to both deliver this corporate plan and at the same time address the national challenges facing us’. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Vision: ‘To create stronger and more resilient communities’. The vision is supported by three goals: ‘Provide high quality, low cost, customer focused services’ ‘Ensure local, open and honest decision making’ ‘Working with our partners to support Wiltshire’s communities’

Plan/Programme Wiltshire Workspace and Employment Land Strategy (2009/10) Level Local Document date August 2009 Summary of document Commissioned by the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership and undertaken by DTZ, the Wiltshire Workspace and Employment land Strategy (WWELS) provides a market facing assessment of the demand for and supply of employment land, sites and premises in the Wiltshire sub-region. The WWELS quantifies the level and type of employment land and sites and premises required in Wiltshire to support the continuation of strong economic growth over the period to 2026. It is an essential piece of evidence to support the economic strategy within the Wiltshire core strategy. WWELS focuses on understanding the role of the principal settlements - Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge and of market towns and a wider range of economic activity in rural areas; it considers the role of town centres in accommodating employment uses, including exploration of more innovative options.

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Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The overall scale of new development which the document considered appropriate at these settlements was: Chippenham between 30.5 and 39 ha Salisbury between 30.5 and 39 ha Trowbridge between 29.0 and 37 ha WWELS also identified those market towns with the potential to accommodate employment land based on their location, access, existing level of employment provision and levels of vacancy in the existing stock. These were Amesbury, Calne, Devizes, Melksham, Warminster, Westbury and Wootton Bassett. Within these towns it was considered between 73 and 98ha of additional employment land should be provided. The WWELS study identified that other market towns had an important local employment role and supported their surrounding rural areas. These included Bradford on Avon, Corsham, Cricklade, Downton, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Mere, Pewsey, Tidworth, Tisbury, and Wilton. These were not considered appropriate for large scale employment growth. The total employment land recommended in the WWELS was 188 ha.

Plan/Programme Future employment needs in Wiltshire – Employment floorspace and land forecasts Level Local Document date April 2011 Summary of document This paper identifies the basic employment land that is required across Wiltshire during the period 2006 to 2026 for the forecasted increase in job numbers. This paper takes the forecast job increases and decreases by sector for east, west and north Wiltshire and translates this into a forecast net employment land requirement. This is undertaken in five year increments for the 3 areas (north, west, east Wiltshire) in order to assist business support planning. Key objectives/requirements/conclusions Overall north, west and east Wiltshire are forecast to need an addition 15.6 ha of employment land for the period 2006 – 2026 to meet the forecast growth in employment. In addition south Wiltshire is forecast to need an additional 20.4 ha2 of new employment land resulting in a need across Wiltshire of an additional 36 ha of employment land for forecast job growth. This takes account of net gains and losses and is based on gross internal areas. Overall employment land requirement in north, west and east Wiltshire 2006-2026 (Ha) Business Use Class North West East Wiltshire Total Wiltshire Wiltshire B1 Business 13.53 7.47 7.07 28.1 B2 General industrial -14.0 0.54 0.16 -13.6 B8 Storage and distribution 0.65 0.78 0.26 1.2

Total (all B use classes) 0.19 8.79 6.65 15.6

Plan/Programme The Wiltshire Strategic Economic Assessment 2007/2008 Level Local Document date December 2009 Summary of document The Wiltshire Economic Assessment 2007/8 document is the third in a series of economic assessments carried out for the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership. It includes: • A focus on Wiltshire's economic performance in terms of output, productivity, income and employment; • A look at businesses in Wiltshire in terms of business density, industrial composition, income and employment; • A look at the Wiltshire labour market, concentrating on labour demand, labour supply and equlibrium, and; • An overview of the residential and commercial property market.

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Key objectives/requirements/conclusions The assessment concludes that in the past 10 years Wiltshire has been losing competitive advantage against the rest of the South West region and against neighbouring economies. This loss can be explained by a combination of at least four key (and at times inter-related) issues: Firstly, Wiltshire’s attraction as a place to live (as opposed to work); secondly, its location (situated in close proximity to a series of major and competitive economies which provide large numbers of quality well paid jobs in growth sectors); thirdly, the ongoing gradual employment decline of Manufacturing and Public Administration & Defence; and, fourthly, lower employment growth than competitor areas in higher added value growth employment service sectors (i.e. business services). The last 3 of these key issues can also be regarded as key issues and challenges which will need to be tackled if the area is to ensure that it regains competitiveness and good growth. The main mechanisms for tackling these issues are: Skills; Entrepreneurship; Innovation; and, Infrastructure.

Plan/Programme Transforming Trowbridge Level Local Document date 2010 Summary of document The aim of Transforming Trowbridge is to enhance the town’s prosperity and environment in line with its status as Wiltshire’s county town. The aspiration to raise Trowbridge’s profile to a level deserving of a county town, coupled with the development potential of significant sites in the town centre, has provided the impetus to move away from piecemeal, uncoordinated development towards a strategic, comprehensive approach to regeneration. In May 2009, following the establishment of Wiltshire Council as the new unitary authority for the County, Transforming Trowbridge was re-established as a Special Purpose Delivery Vehicle with the goal of leading on and advising Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet on the regeneration of Trowbridge. The new Transforming Trowbridge Board included for the first time representatives of major local employers along with Chamber of Commerce and Mid Wiltshire Economic Partnership to ensure that the regeneration of the town addressed the needs of the business sector and was best placed to fulfill the economic growth agenda. Key objectives and/or requirements The overarching aim is ‘To grow and integrate the infrastructure and capacity of Trowbridge to meet existing need in retail, leisure, employment, commerce, housing and skills and to meet the future challenge of the planned major growth in population. The main objectives are: 1. Providing the forum that will enable Wiltshire Council and other interested parties to facilitate the regeneration of Trowbridge 2. Develop a Masterplan to ensure that a new Vision and its constituent projects are consistent with Trowbridge’s status as a Strategically Significant Town and with the Wiltshire Core Strategy and to monitor and maintain this document. 3. To facilitate the production and adoption of a strategic infrastructure and integrated transport plan for Trowbridge 4. Promote activities to engage the community in the planning and delivery of the Vision including involving and interfacing with networks and organisations that may have shared/overlapping objectives and/or which can contribute to the Vision

Plan/Programme Chippenham Vision Level Local Document date 2008 Summary of document The Vision is about achieving agreement between the different organisations working to improve Chippenham on what must be done and how it should be done. In 2008 The Chippenham Vision produced a document setting out the need for change to improve the town. This identified opportunities for improvement and priority areas for action. It describes how individual developments and projects affect and benefit the town and how they can be combined to deliver the Vision.

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Key objectives and/or requirements The Chippenham Vision has 8 key opportunity areas. – the public realm, business and employment, transport, leisure and tourism, retail and food, education and skills, the environment and policy and vision. Relating to business and employment the vision wants to: • attract more long-term employers to the town, encourage business start-ups and entrepreneurial activity, • provide more available employment land and opportunities; • provide quality retail, diverse restaurants and choice hotels • prepare a master plan for the central area and development briefs key sites. Some specific opportunities identified are: • identify potential new employment land and unlock existing land bank, • supplement declining manufacturing base with high growth businesses • attract new business and promote innovation • Chippenham as a business hub to encourage linked rural enterprise • Mixed use regeneration • attract good quality broad appeal retailers • improve the environment between the river and town centre

Plan/Programme Mid –Wiltshire Economic Strategy 2009 – 2014 (Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Melksham, Pewsey, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury) Level Local Document date 2009 Summary of document The aim of the strategy is “To develop a strong, vibrant, socially and environmentally sustainable economy in Mid Wiltshire with infrastructure and services that support business development, growth, innovation and productivity, attract inward investment, customers and visitors, whilst encouraging skills development and high quality employment for Wiltshire people.” The core strategy needs to reflect the ambitions within this work. Key objectives and/or requirements Key objectives include: • To improve the vitality and economic sustainability of Mid Wiltshire’s market towns and rural areas. • To encourage diversification of the rural economy and support opportunities for rural development • To be responsive to local need for jobs in rural areas. • To reduce the carbon footprint of businesses. • To ensure the appropriate provision and retention of sites, premises and industrial estates for employment use. • To recognise Devizes, Melksham, Warminster and Westbury as larger market towns which need to consolidate and develop this role. • To reduce out-commuting from Bradford-on Avon • To support Pewsey as a centre for local service and retail provision. • To reduce the impact of growth on Devizes by encouraging urban regeneration and use of previously used land. • To recognise that Devizes has the best prospects in Mid Wiltshire for attracting further employment.

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Plan/Programme North Wiltshire Economic Strategy 2009 -2014 (Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Cricklade, Marlborough, Malmesbury, Wootton Bassett) Level Local Document date 2009 Summary of document The aim of the strategy is ‘To develop a strong, vibrant and sustainable economy in North Wiltshire with the right infrastructure and services to support business growth and innovation, to attract investment and visitors and encourage skills development.’ Key objectives and/or requirements Strategic objectives include: To improve the sustainability and attractiveness of the main towns and settlements. To improve the vitality and sustainability of Chippenham as the strategic hub. To encourage diversification of the rural economy and opportunities for rural development. To reduce the carbon footprint of businesses. To ensure the appropriate provision and retention of sites, premises and industrial estates for employment use. To ensure improvement to transport structure and car parking in North Wiltshire to meet business needs. To work with Visit Wiltshire on the strategic development of tourism as a key sector of the economy. To work with the MoD over the future use of sites around Corsham and RAF Lyneham.

14.2 Additional baseline information

14.2.1 This section includes any additional baseline information (as described in section 1.4) that is considered relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy. Much of this information has been obtained from the evidence base informing the Wiltshire Core Strategy, including various topic papers published with the June 2011 consultation document.

Background information and key trends in Wiltshire

14.2.2 There is a significant amount of evidence available in relation to the economy of Wiltshire. However, the latest ‘Strategic Economic Assessment’ produced for the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership was published in December 2009, and relates to 2007/2008. When more recent data becomes available for 2009 and 2010 the scoping report will require updating. In this section, the key issues and trends are discussed in so far as they are relevant to the sustainability appraisal of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

14.2.3 Wiltshire is an ‘externally facing’ economy in terms of employment in sectors which rely on income generation from outside the area. In addition, the area has had a substantial influx of migrant labour into lower-order jobs over the last few years, and good numbers of these have subsequently been made redundant as a result of the economic downturn; this boosts unemployment in Wiltshire and there is evidence that Wiltshire’s traditionally low rates of unemployment compared to both the South West and nationally are likely to be a thing of the past to one degree or another.

Ageing workforce

14.2.4 An overly ageing workforce represents a key challenge for Wiltshire and is eroding its prowess as an area with an overly industrious and higher skilled workforce. Replacing older skilled workers is likely to be more challenging in Wiltshire than elsewhere and, allied to this, raising the quality of young entrants into the labour

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market and raising vocational training levels amongst Wiltshire’s employers are key challenges for the Wiltshire economy.

Workplace economy

14.2.5 Wiltshire’s workplace economy can be described as established, steady and successful with the main key economic indicators of output per worker and earnings per worker performing better than the regional average, though somewhat below the national average. The workplace economy has a fairly diverse economic base, although Wholesale & Retail (including vehicle and personal and household good repairs) and Real Estate, Renting & Business Activities have the largest shares of total workplace employment.

14.2.6 Externally-focused sectors such as Manufacturing, Business services and Transport and communications account for significantly more of total Wiltshire employment than the region and slightly more than nationally. Such sectors are of crucial importance to the economic wellbeing of Wiltshire because they draw-in additional value from trade based outside the local economy (rather than circulating trade indigenously). Wiltshire also has key employment strength in Research and Development, centred within the Salisbury Research Triangle, and focused around the long-established, world-class research and development facilities of Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory), QinetiQ and the Health Protection Agency (HPA), global leader in vaccine development and medical testing.

Job losses in public sector and defence

14.2.7 One major issue has been the significant net job losses in Wiltshire’s Public Administration & Defence sector, something which did not occur to the same degree regionally or nationally. If it weren’t for the decline of employment in Public admin and defence, Wiltshire would likely have outstripped national and regional employment growth over the last ten years instead of lagging behind.

Resident-based economy

14.2.8 Wiltshire’s resident-based economy performs substantially better than both regionally and nationally; the Wiltshire labour market has high economic activity and employment rates, and has a higher proportion of its resident working age population with degree level qualifications than the South West and Great Britain. Moreover, although there are areas of deprivation, Wiltshire has the highest level of Gross Disposable Household Income of all the South West NUTS 3 areas35, driven by relatively high resident-based earnings.

Business dynamism

14.2.9 Business dynamism is also healthy; the total stock of VAT registered businesses has increased year on year and the annualised growth rate of VAT registered businesses is one of the highest in the region. In general, businesses which start up in Wiltshire have a better rate of survival than regionally, and significantly better than nationally.

14.2.10 However, Wiltshire’s businesses are generally smaller businesses in terms of both employment and turnover than regionally and nationally and the disadvantages of having a high proportion of micro businesses are that the economy derives fewer of

35 Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics, Eurostat statistical administrative area. Eurostat is the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

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the benefits of larger businesses and employers (investment and training opportunities, innovation and R&D, higher rates of productivity and earnings, higher volumes of businesses reliant upon income earned from outside of the local area).

Growing population

14.2.11 Wiltshire has a significant and growing population to draw upon (likely to reach the significant half million mark sometime before 2020) and significantly higher economic activity rates and employment rates than either the region or the nation as a whole. However, Wiltshire’s labour market is significantly tighter than either that of the broader region or the country as a whole and, as with most local economies across the South West, its population profile is ageing. In addition, discrepancies between average earnings by workplace and average earnings by residence in Wiltshire suggests that Wiltshire’s higher skilled resident workers are unable to secure the higher than average earnings within Wiltshire that are on offer in adjacent economies. Commuting patterns confirm this.

14.2.12 All of Wiltshire’s districts have had an influx of migrants over the last few years, particularly from Eastern Europe, most of whom have come to work. However, West Wiltshire has seen the greatest increase by far and away. The key economic effects of these changes are likely to be an increase in Wiltshire’s overall population and an increase in its working age population, economic activity rate and employment rate. Wiltshire may also see a possible decrease in average earnings (if most migrants gain work in lower order lower paid occupations as opposed to higher order higher paid occupations).

Cost of working

14.2.13 The cost of working and living in Wiltshire appears reasonably competitive, this is less so for those that live and work in Wiltshire than those who live in Wiltshire but work elsewhere. Wiltshire house prices remain too high for younger people and the lower skilled (and paid) who tend to rely on local jobs. As a result, some local industries will struggle to secure labour at a price which will enable them to compete with lower cost foreign production. These conditions place further pressures on manufacturing in the Wiltshire economy. In fact, Wiltshire has one of the biggest gaps between relative affordability for residents and relative affordability for workers.

14.2.14 In summary, in the past 10 years Wiltshire has been losing competitive advantage against the rest of the South West region and against neighbouring economies. This loss can be explained by a combination of at least four key (and at times interrelated) issues:

1. Wiltshire’s attraction as a place to live (as opposed to work);

2. Wiltshire’s location (situated in close proximity to a series of major and competitive economies which provide large numbers of quality well paid jobs in growth sectors);

3. The ongoing gradual employment decline of Manufacturing and Public Administration & Defence;

4. Lower employment growth than competitor areas in higher added value growth employment service sectors (i.e. business services).

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14.2.15 The last 3 of these key issues can also be regarded as key issues and challenges which will need to be tackled if the area is to ensure that it regains competitiveness and good growth. The main mechanisms for tackling these issues are: Skills; Entrepreneurship; Innovation; and, Infrastructure.

Economic impact of the economic downturn in Wiltshire

14.2.16 An update report was published in May 2011 entitled ‘Economic impact of the economic downturn in Wiltshire’. This report presents the findings from an ongoing analysis which monitors and explores the economic impact of the 2008 UK and global economic ‘downturn’ on, and across, the Wiltshire economy.

14.2.17 The analysis explores both the Wiltshire workplace economy (and its constituent workplace sub-economies) and also its resident-based economy (and its constituent resident-based sub-economies). However, this update does not cover the widespread redundancies which appear to have occurred at the end of the 2010/2011 financial year. Many of these redundancies will be the result of the large- scale UK Government cuts to public services announced through 2010, and which are often timed to coincide with funding and financial planning regimes, most of which conform to the financial year.

Workplace economy impact

14.2.18 Driven almost exclusively by Services as opposed to Blue Collar sectors, 2010 marked a period of good recovery in the Wiltshire workplace economy with the area recovering approximately one third of the ground it lost from the Downturn in 2008 and 2009. However, the impact of the Downturn has still left Wiltshire workplaces with a (net) total of 4,500 people less at the end of 2010 than they had at the end of 2007 (a 2.2% decline). Wiltshire’s GVA has declined by around 5% as a result of the Downturn.

14.2.19 Overall, the Wiltshire workplace economy appears, so far at least, to have been slightly worse affected by the economic Downturn than Great Britain, but significantly worse affected than the South West, which appears to have weathered the Downturn reasonably well (at least compared nationally).

14.2.20 Within Wiltshire, the ongoing effects of the Downturn have been felt almost exclusively in the West Wiltshire workplace economy. Of the 3 remaining pre-2009 district economies of Kennet, North Wiltshire and Salisbury, these workplace economies have managed to at least stabilise (if not recover somewhat), since the end of 2009.

14.2.21 The most affected workplace economies within Wiltshire continue to be Trowbridge, Salisbury, Westbury and Corsham. The remaining urban areas of Wiltshire have been recovering or stabilising (such as Chippenham, Melksham, Wootton Bassett, Warminster and Calne) or indeed have managed to weather the Downturn relatively well throughout (Amesbury, Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey). The rural workplaces of the former districts of North and West Wiltshire also continue to be affected by the Downturn, certainly more than the rural areas of Kennet and Salisbury, which appear little affected by the Downturn overall.

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Resident economy impact

14.2.22 In December 2007, Wiltshire had around 2,300 claimant unemployed, equivalent to 0.8% of the WAP. Three years later Wiltshire unemployment had risen to 1.9% of the WAP, a rise of 3,200 (1.6%).

14.2.23 The impact of the downturn occurred most significantly in Wiltshire (as regionally and nationally) through 2008 and 2009. In 2010, however, there was substantial recovery in the resident economy of Wiltshire (again, as with regionally and nationally). Recent signs suggest that this recovery may well have been temporary and that, in 2011, Wiltshire is seeing the beginnings of a second wave of downturn impacts, possibly instigated by the (new) UK Government cuts which were largely announced in 2010 and which will ‘play out’ during 2011.

14.2.24 The good progress of recovery of Wiltshire in 2010 has once again helped to open a slight gap between its (lower) rate of unemployment and that of the region, and to restore the traditional gap between the Wiltshire (lower) rate and the national rate. The previous downturn update showed that both these gaps were under threat of closing.

14.2.25 Within Wiltshire, unemployment volume increases tend to reflect the relative size of the resident population in general. For example, claimant unemployment volumes have risen most in Trowbridge, Chippenham and Salisbury. However, absolute percentage changes in unemployment tend to be highest in those Community Areas where claimant unemployment volumes are traditionally the lowest. It is also noticeable that these Community Areas are, in general, characterised by relatively low levels of indigenous workplace employment activity and high net out-commuting and a location of the periphery of Wiltshire:

14.2.26 In total, it is estimated that Wiltshire earnings fell from £5,551 million in December 2007 to £5,493 million in December 2010, a volume loss of around £58 million, and equivalent to a decline of 1.0%. The Wiltshire earning loss is less than that experienced regionally, which saw a 1.2% decline in earnings, and quite substantially lower than that seen nationally, a 1.5% decrease.

14.2.27 The nature of job losses across Wiltshire, in terms of broad skills levels at least, has been in line with trends seen nationally and regionally; around 30% of losses are skilled jobs and around 70% are unskilled jobs. West Wiltshire has displayed the largest share of skilled job losses, whilst North Wiltshire has displayed the lowest share of skilled job losses. In fact, the North Wiltshire economy, with its relatively small percentage of skilled losses and commensurately larger proportion of unskilled losses, stands out from the general trends seen across the rest of Wiltshire, and also nationally and regionally.

14.2.28 By gender, the nature of job losses across Wiltshire overall has also been broadly in line with trends seen nationally and regionally; just over two thirds of downturn losses are males and just less than one third are females. The nature of job losses by age across Wiltshire has also been broadly in line with trends seen nationally and regionally with around one quarter of losses being young people (aged 16 to 24), three fifths or so being middle-aged (aged 25 to 49), and one fifth being older (aged over 50). Within Wiltshire, the highest proportions of young people job losses were experienced in Wootton Bassett, Amesbury, Marlborough, Pewsey and Tisbury. Devizes is notable for having a very low proportion of younger job losses.

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14.2.29 In terms of changes in the duration of unemployment, of Wiltshire’s total change in unemployed since the end of 2007, some 74% of the change in unemployed comprises shorter term unemployed and 27% is longer term unemployed. Such proportions are almost identical to those displayed by the South West region as a whole, but slightly different to those nationally, where a somewhat lower proportion of the change in unemployed is shorter term and somewhat more are longer term.

Economic impacts of the military changes in Wiltshire

14.2.30 The military presence in Wiltshire is set to undergo a number of changes in the period to 2030. There is a need to accommodate troops being repatriated from Germany as parts of the German defence estate are closed and to improve affordability, with the aim to concentrate personnel on fewer, larger sites that can better deliver military capability.

14.2.31 A number of major changes are planned for both the army and RAF presence in Wiltshire over the next four to five years. The first of these changes is the stepped build up in the numbers of army personnel and their families based in the Salisbury Plain area, as this is developed as one of the country’s first Super Garrisons. This increase began in 2007 and should be completed by 2012. Associated with this build up, the garrisons in the area are undergoing redevelopment as part of the Project Allenby Connaught PFI. This is the largest estates/services PFI to be signed by the MoD, with the 35 year contract with Aspire Defence Ltd amounting to around £8bn through life.

14.2.32 RAF Lyneham in North Wiltshire is currently the largest RAF base in the South West region, but will be closing in its current form in 2012 with all personnel and functions transferring to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The site is being considered for military re-use as a main operating base for Joint Helicopter Command, although no decision on this had been made at the time of writing.

14.2.33 In a third major change, the army headquarters currently based at Wilton and Upavon merged in 2008 to form the new HQ Land Forces. The personnel associated with this combined organisation will be relocating to Andover, Hampshire. The site at Upavon is most likely to be retained for military use, while the Wilton site is classified as disposal and is therefore expected to be released.

14.2.34 A second large estates/services PFI contract has been awarded to provide a new facility for Information Systems and Services (formerly the Defence Communication Services Agency) at Corsham in North Wiltshire. This will include the provision of operational and technical support facilities, along with new office accommodation and some Single Living Accommodation (SLA – barracks). The contract was awarded in 2008 and construction should be completed in 2011. The overall value of the contract is £800m over a 25 year lifespan.

Wiltshire Workspace and Employment Land Strategy (2009/10)

14.2.35 Commissioned by the Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership and undertaken by DTZ, the Wiltshire Workspace and Employment land Strategy (WWELS) provides a market facing assessment of the demand for and supply of employment land, sites and premises in the Wiltshire sub-region. The WWELS quantifies the level and type of employment land and sites and premises required in Wiltshire to support the continuation of strong economic growth over the period to 2026. It is an essential piece of evidence to support the economic strategy within the Wiltshire core strategy.

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14.2.36 The Strategy identifies growth of 27,570` jobs across Wiltshire over the plan period (of which 10,900 will be delivered in South Wiltshire). A total of 178 hectares of new employment land is proposed across Wiltshire (including approximately 50 hectares within South Wiltshire). This is in addition to that already committed (built out or planned for) since 2006 and will provide a range of sites and choice of locations across Wiltshire. The Strategy seeks to balance the geographical benefits that attract employment development to Wiltshire and the economic potential of individual places within Wiltshire

14.2.37 WWELS focuses on understanding the role of the principal settlements, namely: Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge and of market towns and a wider range of economic activity in rural areas; it considers the role of town centres in accommodating employment uses, including exploration of more innovative options.

14.2.38 Although the WWELS was developed within the framework provided by the draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy, the analysis about individual places remains relevant, as the focus of the Draft RSS on Strategically Significant Cities and Towns (SSCTs) identified Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge as locations with an existing concentration of businesses where there is a realistic ambition to deliver new strategic opportunities for employment.

14.2.39 The overall scale of new development which the document considered appropriate at these settlements was:

• Chippenham between 30.5 and 39 ha • Salisbury between 30.5 and 39 ha • Trowbridge between 29.0 and 37 ha

14.2.40 WWELS also identified those market towns with the potential to accommodate employment land based on their location, access, existing level of employment provision and levels of vacancy in the existing stock. These were Amesbury, Calne, Devizes, Melksham, Warminster, Westbury and Wootton Bassett. Within these towns it was considered between 73 and 98ha of additional employment land should be provided.

14.2.41 The WWELS study identified that other market towns had an important local employment role and supported their surrounding rural areas. These included Bradford on Avon, Corsham, Cricklade, Downton, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Mere, Pewsey, Tidworth, Tisbury, and Wilton. These were not considered appropriate for large scale employment growth. Lyneham, Porton Down and Ludgershall were also considered by the WWELS study, and were identified as being dominated by defence related activity and therefore required separate consideration.

14.2.42 In addition to assessing economic role of places within Wiltshire and their potential to contribute to the wider Wiltshire economy, the WWELS also assessed the theoretical demand for employment land in Wiltshire. This comprised an allowance for future job growth (94.6 ha), an allowance for change in the existing employment stock (76.1 ha), and an extra allowance to offer choice (17.1 ha).

14.2.43 Summarised below is the intelligence gathered about each town which will be important for assessing significant effects through the sustainability appraisal:

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Chippenham 14.2.44 Chippenham is one of the largest towns in Wiltshire, and is identified as a strategic employment location. The town has been successful in retaining international employers in the manufacturing and service sector, including ICT services, rail systems and logistics. Chippenham has excellent transport links, being in close proximity to the M4 and on the main Bristol to London railway route and, as such, it is an attractive location to employers, but this also leads to significant levels of out- commuting. However, there is currently a shortfall in suitable land for employment growth and a failure to respond to this issue would result in existing and prospective employers moving elsewhere.

Trowbridge 14.2.45 Trowbridge has been identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. The town has a strong industrial heritage and as the County Town of Wiltshire maintains an important strategic role. It has good transport links to many nearby settlements including Bath and Bristol and is only 30 minutes from the M4. The town has good rail connectivity to the west, via Bath and Bristol and the south, via Westbury and Southampton. The strategically important A350 links Trowbridge with the M4 and the south coast. Trowbridge plays an important role as an employment, administration and service centre for Wiltshire. The regeneration of the central area of Trowbridge is a priority for the Council, the Town Council and local businesses.

Bradford-on-Avon 14.2.46 Bradford-on-Avon is not identified as a strategic location for employment. It has been noted that Bradford-on-Avon faces a particular issue of the loss of employment land for housing. However, the current mix of small employers should ensure that Bradford-on-Avon is resistant to mass job losses resulting from a single business closure. The high levels of out commuting indicate that development of business and employment should be encouraged to meet local needs.

Calne 14.2.47 Calne has been identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. This recognises that Calne has a number of large scale employment locations which have the benefit of potential expansion land and has successfully attracted a number of large employers in the past. Although transport in and around Calne suffers from some ongoing problems, easy access to the M4 should help the town attract new employers and address relatively high levels of out commuting and low population to job ratio. There is no dominant employer in Calne and further capacity is available for new businesses and employment development.

Corsham 14.2.48 Corsham has not been identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. Corsham has a large existing employment base for a town of its size that has historically been based on the presence of the Ministry of Defence. A rationalisation of MoD operations has seen the construction of Basil Hill Barracks which will help develop a specialist cluster of new technologies with opportunities identified at Spring Park for specialist employment development. The town continues to be a net importer of workers (more jobs available than total resident workers) yet sees relatively high levels of out commuting.

Devizes 14.2.49 Devizes is identified as a location for strategic employment growth. The town retains a large and varied employment base and should be resistant to job losses from a

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single business closure. Devizes has a good record of attracting employers, although given its location and transport access these have tended to be small to medium business catering for local networks. The success of Devizes as an employment location and the status of the town should enable it to continue to be a strategic location for new employment growth outside the principle employment growth areas of Wiltshire.

Malmesbury 14.2.50 Malmesbury is not identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. However, it is clear that retention of the town’s existing employment base is critically important to the success of the town. In the recent past Malmesbury has had a significant level of self containment. However, this has been based on a single large local employer and indications show that a reduced workforce may have seen some restructuring of employment provision. Malmesbury has a relatively small employment base and provision of employment should look to small to medium employers to increase variation of the town’s employment base.

Marlborough 14.2.51 Marlborough is not identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. Marlborough has a relatively small but varied employment base with a reasonable level of self containment. The Marlborough Business Park has provided an important new location for employment growth and new business in Marlborough. Marlborough has some unusual employment patterns with a strong representation by the education sector. There is no indication that this sector will weaken in the planning period.

Melksham 14.2.52 Melksham is identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. It is located on the A350 and forms part of the key A350 employment growth area. The number of jobs in Melksham is relatively low considering the size of the population. This may be due to some restructuring of the employment mix in Melksham. Historically, Melksham has been able to attract large employers but over reliance on a single employer leaves the town vulnerable to mass job losses. Nevertheless, there are good opportunities to expand the employment base.

Tidworth 14.2.53 Tidworth/Ludgershall is not identified as a location new strategic employment growth. The employment mix in the town is dominated by the Army and this causes a number of unusual commuting patterns with a high percentage of people walking to work and relatively good level of self containment. Nevertheless, there remains significant out- commuting with limited employment beyond jobs associated with the MoD. New employment at Tidworth and Ludgershall should concentrate on providing alternative employment opportunities to vary the job market.

Warminster 14.2.54 Warminster has been identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. It is one of the larger market towns but has few jobs and this together with its location on the A36/A350 and rail link offer scope for future employment provision. The MOD continues to be the largest employer in the town. The West Wiltshire Employment Land Assessment (published in 2007) states that Warminster has seen high volumes of empty units over the last few years, but that the redevelopment of the town has stimulated more demand in the town centre. There is a large amount of existing employment land around Warminster with a good potential for medium and long term

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growth given high levels of demand. Warminster therefore has the capacity to enhance its contribution to the employment base within Wiltshire.

Westbury 14.2.55 Westbury has been identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. The town’s location between Warminster and Trowbridge allied with its position as a junction for rail travel makes it an accessible location and enhances its catchment. The employment base in Westbury should be relatively resistant to changes, but the recent growth in housing has not as yet been matched by employment growth and there are large existing employment allocations that need to be retained and developed to create a better balance in the town.

Wootton Bassett 14.2.56 Wootton Bassett has been identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. The town has a smaller employment base than might be expected for a town of its size and it clearly acts as a dormitory settlement to Swindon. A large number of MOD personnel live in Wootton Bassett, and the issue of RAF Lyneham and other MOD sites closing must be considered. However, the town has a varied employment base beyond the MOD and should be relatively resilient to mass job losses.

Tourism in Wiltshire

14.2.57 The tourism sector has increased in importance in Wiltshire since 1995, and specifically since 2005, with West Wiltshire consistently having the greatest proportion from this sector. Tourism related jobs in south Wiltshire amount to the smallest percentage of total jobs in that area, although still an important contributor to the economy. West and East Wiltshire have, since 2005, proportionately more jobs in tourism than the South West average.

14.2.58 Putting the number of tourism jobs into context, the tourism industry is worth over £779 million a year to the Wiltshire economy (South West Tourism 2008, NB: figures include Swindon). Over £474 million of this originates from visitors enjoying day trips to the county. The remainder is made up of visitors from both the UK and overseas staying overnight in Wiltshire (over £263 million); people visiting their friends and relatives in the county (over £40 million); and spend on second homes and holiday accommodation (£842,000).

14.2.59 Compared to other counties in the south west of England, Wiltshire generates the lowest amount of spend from staying visitors - £263 million each year in Wiltshire, compared to £1,210 million in Cornwall. Wiltshire earns slightly more spend (£474 million) from visitors on day trips than Cornwall (about £452 million). However, this is a long way behind other counties in the south west, with Devon generating the most money from day trips at £918 million each year.

14.2.60 There are nearly 20,000 tourism related jobs in Wiltshire, which accounts for about 6% of all employment. This equates to about 14,459 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Of the actual jobs, about 14,306 are directly employed in tourism related businesses. The remainder are from indirect and induced employment related to the tourism industry. Nearly half of all actual direct jobs related to the Wiltshire tourism industry are in the catering trade (4063 jobs). Retail is the second largest employer of people (1901 jobs), followed by jobs related to accommodation (1452 jobs) and visitor attractions / entertainments (1344 jobs).

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14.2.61 Across the county (excluding Swindon), south Wiltshire (which includes the medieval city of Salisbury and the World Heritage Site at Stonehenge), generates the majority of visitor spend and employment. South Wiltshire earns about £187 million a year from tourism, compared to £138 million in mid Wiltshire; £138 million in west Wiltshire and £158 million in the north of the county. Approximately 4200 jobs in south Wiltshire are related to tourism spending. This accounts for over 31% of all tourism related jobs in Wiltshire. In south Wiltshire the jobs supported by tourism represent 7% of all employment. This is similar to the rest of the county where between 5% and 6% of all employment is tourism related.

Key indicator table

Wiltshire South West England Earnings, output and spending Median full-time earnings (workplace) 2008 £24,133 £23,161 £24,913 (ONS ASHE) Median full-time earnings (residence) 2008 £25,719 £23,422 £24,924 (ONS ASHE) Economic output per capita 2006 £16,574 £17,386 £19,413 Gross Disposable Household Income per capita £15,417 £14,187 £14,556 2007 Annual Gross Value Added growth rate 1996- 4.9% 5.5% 5.4% 2006 Employment Overall jobs growth (last decade) 2008 9% 13% 12% Business self-employment rate 2008 16% 15% 14% Proportion in higher level jobs 2008† 47% 43% 43% Unemployed claimant rate Oct 2009 2.7% 2.9% 4.1% Business Business density (per 10,000 adults) 2008 506 449 409 Start-up survival rate (3+ years) 2006 68% 67% 64% Change in stocks for VAT reg. Business 1998- 24.9% 19.5% 21.3% 2008 Source: Wiltshire Strategic Economic Assessment 2007-2008 † Defined as managers, senor officials, professional or associate professional and technical occupations

14.3 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy

14.3.1 Maintaining a buoyant local economy will rely on providing an adequate amount of additional employment land to meet future need and protecting and enhancing existing employment areas. Existing saved policies are variable and inconsistent across the former district council areas and relying on these is unlikely to provide for future demand from current businesses and will not attract inward investment that is needed to reduce out-commuting.

14.3.2 The Core Strategy promotes regeneration in a number of town centres which will improve the employment offer in these areas and help increase footfall thereby increasing the viability of town centre businesses.

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14.4 Review of key sustainability issues

14.4.1 Additional key sustainability issues relating to economy and enterprise which have been identified through a review of evidence for the Core Strategy and Local Development Framework are as follows:

• Dependency on public sector employment, low value economic activity and neighbouring areas for trade and jobs - traditionally, Wiltshire has been dominated by low value, low skilled manufacturing and service sectors. As a result it has become an attractive county for the higher skilled and higher paid in which to live, but not to work. In addition, a large proportion of employment in the county is within the public sector and this will fall as government cuts are realised. The employment base needs to be broadened to develop a sector profile which will be competitive in the future and also offer quality employment opportunities, thereby reducing out-commuting.

• Business infrastructure provision does not meet demand - in order to support the work to broaden the employment base, Wiltshire needs to provide an attractive environment for both businesses and residents. This includes ensuring that development and regeneration activity takes place in appropriate locations where businesses want to operate and people want to live, as well as providing appropriate commercial sites and premises supported by an appropriate ICT and transport network.

• There are inequalities between resident based and workplace based earnings and skills levels - The skills base of Wiltshire is relatively polarised with a high proportion of residents with high skills levels, but equally a significant proportion with poor basic skills and, as a result of the recession, increasing unemployment levels and a worsening ‘Not in Employment, Education or Training’ (NEET) issue amongst young people.

• Wiltshire businesses and organisations need to improve their resource efficiency - The UK government is committed to legally-binding targets to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. This will result in increased regulation for businesses and organisations to improve resource efficiency.

• An overly ageing workforce represents a key challenge for Wiltshire and is eroding its prowess as an area with an overly industrious and higher skilled workforce. Replacing older skilled workers is likely to be more challenging in Wiltshire than elsewhere and, allied to this, raising the quality of young entrants into the labour market and raising vocational training levels amongst Wiltshire’s employers are key challenges for the Wiltshire economy.

• At the heart of Wiltshire’s labour market competitiveness is a relatively highly skilled workforce. However, in keeping with the national trend, there is a significant demand for basic skills training. A well-educated workforce is central to Wiltshire’s future competitiveness as it enables the area to attract and retain the high value added sectors which will help improve productivity. Performing above the national average on key education indicators is essential to secure future competitiveness in a national (and international) context.

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• Globalisation will continue to pose both threats and opportunities for the Wiltshire economy. Threats are more in terms of markets and jobs at the lower value added end (low-cost, standard commodity-type goods and services) and particularly from China and India. Opportunities are more at entering markets and sustaining presence at the higher value added end and this requires a highly skilled workforce.

14.5 Sustainability objectives

14.5.1 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework contains 17 sustainability objectives – two of which relate to economy and enterprise. The current objectives are:

• Encourage a vibrant and diversified economy and provide for long-term sustainable economic growth

• Ensure adequate provision of high-quality employment land and diverse employment opportunities to meet the needs of local businesses and a changing workforce

14.5.2 As a result of the review of plans, programmes, policies, and baseline information, it is not considered necessary to amend the current objectives at this time.

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15 Next steps and further information

15.1 This addendum report should be read in conjunction with the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report published in April 2010. It provides additional and updated information to inform the assessment of likely significant effects of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

15.2 A full review of the thirteen Scoping Report topic papers will take place at a later date.

15.3 Further information regarding the Wiltshire Core Strategy can be found online at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wiltshirecorestrategy.htm

15.4 Further information regarding the Wiltshire Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report, and sustainability appraisal generally, can be found online at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ldfsustainabilityappraisal.htm

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Appendix A – Scoping Report addendum: Statutory environmental consultees consultation responses

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response English Heritage – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received Topic 6 - Historic Policies, plans and programmes - I consider the SA should refer to the following: This is included in the environment UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972) Scoping Report This aims to: define cultural and natural heritage; recognise protection and conservation; understand the value; and published in 2010. This establish 'the World Heritage fund'. The protection and enhancement of cultural heritage assets and their settings should be additional text included a key consideration for the WCS as a consequence. in Topic 6. Topic 6 - Historic Policies, plans and programmes - I consider the SA should refer to the following: This is included in the environment Council of Europe: European Landscape Convention (2006) landscape section of this This aims to promote the protection, management and planning (including active design and creation of Europe's document. This landscapes, both rural and urban, and to foster European co-operation on landscape issues. The WCS should therefore additional text included support a positive strategy for the HE which protects, and where appropriate, improves the landscape character of Wiltshire. under Topic 6 of this This should include augmenting historic landscapes. addendum. Topic 6 - Historic Policies, plans and programmes - I consider the SA should refer to the following: This information environment DCLG: Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (HE): Practice Guide included in Topic 6 of The purpose of the Practice Guide is to assist local authorities, owners, applicants and other interested parties in this addendum. implementing Planning Policy Statement 5 (Planning for the HE) and to help in the interpretation of policies within the PPS. The WCS should seek to ensure that the principles sets out in the Practice Guide are mirrored by the forward planning process and new development in Wiltshire. Topic 6 - Historic Policies, plans and programmes - I consider the SA should refer to the following: This is included in the environment Heritage Protection for the 21st Century: White Paper (2007) and Heritage Protection Bill (2008) Scoping Report This aims, in particular, to increase the opportunities for public involvement and community engagement within the heritage published in 2010. This protection system. The WCS should aim to increase awareness and understanding of the HE through facilitating the additional text included protection of assets, enhancing their settings and encouraging walking, cycling and improvements to the public realm. The in Topic 6. WCS should also aim to facilitate greater public engagement with the heritage protection system. Topic 6 - Historic Policies, plans and programmes - I consider the SA should refer to the following: A Force for our Future is environment DCMS The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future (2001)/ HM Government’s Statement on the Historic included in the Scoping Environment of England (March 2010) Report published in Both set out how the historic environment holds the key to: an inspiring education resource; more attractive towns and 2010. This additional cities; a prosperous and sustainable countryside; world class tourist attractions; and new jobs. They acknowledge that the text included in Topic 6. “historic environment is an asset of enormous cultural, social, economic and environmental value”. The protection and

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response English Heritage – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received enhancement of cultural heritage assets and their settings should be a key consideration for the WCS. Topic 6 - Historic Policies, plans and programmes - I consider the SA should refer to the following: This has been included environment Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment within summary of PPS5 Your commentary on PPS5 should also include the following requirements: in Topic 6. The WCS should set out a positive, proactive strategy for the conservation36 and enjoyment of the HE – the critical issue, and address the following matters: • the HEs influence on the character of the environment and an area’s sense of place; • the HEs potential to be a catalyst for regeneration, in particular through leisure, tourism and economic development; • the role of the HE in stimulating and inspiring new development of imagination and high quality; • how the re-use of existing fabric, minimising waste will be promoted; and • how sustainable mixed and flexible patterns of land use can be secured.

Topic 6 - Historic Policies, plans and programmes - I consider the SA should refer to the following: This information environment National Planning policy Framework (Draft 2011) included in Topic 6 of You should acknowledge the NPPF as a material consideration and include the following relevant extracts: this addendum. Sustainable development • Development plans must aim to achieve the objective of sustainable development which means using the planning system to protect and enhance the historic environment. Para 10, 20 Draft NPPF • “Local plans should identify land which is genuinely important to protect from development, for instance because of its environmental or historic value”. Para 24 Draft NPPF • “Local plans should contain a clear strategy for the environmental enhancement of the area”. Para 24 Draft NPPF • “Each LPA should ensure that the Local Plan is based on adequate, up-to-date and relevant evidence about the economic, social and environmental characteristics and prospects of the area”. Para 27 Draft NPPF • LPA’s should…prepare a SHLAA to establish realistic assumptions about the availability, suitability and the likely economic viability of land to meet the identified requirement for housing over the plan period. Para 28 Draft NPPF • Note–to be suitable proposals should accord with national planning policy for the HE. To be “sound” a plan should be positively prepared – with a presumption in favour of sustainable development; justified – the most appropriate when considered against reasonable alternatives and based on evidence; effective; and consistent with national policy. Para 48 Draft NPPF Historic environment

36 Conservation. The process of maintaining and managing change to a heritage asset in a way that sustains and where appropriate enhances its significance.

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response English Heritage – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received • The Government’s objective is that the HE and its heritage assets should be conserved (“in a manner appropriate to their significance”) and enjoyed for the quality of life they bring to this and future generations. Para 176, 177 Draft NPPF • A LPA should set out a conservation and enjoyment strategy for the HE taking into account the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits that conservation of the historic environment can bring. Para 178, Draft NPPF • Footnote 16 on pg 50 is very significant. It basically highlights that plan making needs to conform to policy within this HE section. • “LPAs should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset) taking account of the available evidence and any necessary expertise. They should use this assessment when considering the impact of a proposal on a heritage asset, to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal”. Para 181 Draft NPPF “When considering the impact of a proposed development on a designated heritage asset, considerable importance and weight should be given to its conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be”. Para 183 draft NPPF Topic 6 - Historic You should update reference to the Heritage at Risk 2011 register which now also includes industrial archaeology. This has been updated. environment Topic 6 - Historic Baseline information The baseline evidence environment What is the key strategic HE baseline resource in Wiltshire? What is the role of the Wiltshire Historic Environment Record in for the SA and Core the SA and the WCS? Strategy draws upon a number of sources including historic records, information related to designated assets and reports including landscape assessments and the settlement setting assessment. Refer also to Core Strategy Topic Paper 9. Topic 6 - Historic Baseline information A settlement setting

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response English Heritage – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received environment Has there been a Wiltshire Urban Survey? assessment has been undertaken for the principal settlements and market towns which have been identified for strategic growth. Any specific HE issues relevant to strategic settlements and market towns are highlighted in the Core Strategy SA Report. Topic 6 - Historic Baseline information Information on current environment Are conservation appraisals complete - what do they say? Cranborne Chase; village design statements etc? situation requested from Helen Garside. However, information from relevant appraisals is included in SA Report where appropriate. Topic 6 - Historic Baseline information A settlement setting environment Has the landscape and townscape character of the plan area been defined, if so, what are its distinctive features? assessment has been undertaken for the principal settlements and market towns which have been identified for strategic growth. The SA takes account of any relevant landscape and townscape designations/features in the assessment of

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response English Heritage – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received significant effects. Topic 6 - Historic Baseline information These areas are environment Which parts of the region/district are rich in heritage assets (including visitor attractions)? Which locations should be highlighted in this conserved, restored or enhanced? document and in the 2010 scoping report. The SA Report describes areas where effects are likely. See also Core Strategy Topic Paper 9 for a series of maps which identify the location of heritage assets. Topic 6 - Historic Baseline information The SA will make use of environment We welcome your honesty in accepting the evidence base is “thin” and more is required especially relating to non all relevant evidence in designated assets. Are you able to set out what will be gathered and when to enable an appropriate appraisal? I refer you to determining the effects policy HE2 PPS5. of the Core Strategy and other LDF documents. It is considered that an appropriate SA can be undertaken using current available evidence but it highlights where other information would be useful. Topic 6 - Historic Baseline information Agreed. The SA environment It is important that meaningful conclusions can be drawn from the baseline information; what it means for the plan and how Scoping Report and this the historic environment is to be dealt with. When collating and analysing the baseline data on the historic environment it is addendum do identify useful to identify relevant comparators and targets. relevant current issues and trends and will continue to be updated

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response English Heritage – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received when other relevant trends are identified. Topic 6 - Historic Sustainability issues (inter related problems/issues/opportunities) Analysis of the baseline information for the historic These have been environment environment is likely to suggest the following may be issues relating to the HE. included under ‘key Problems sustainability issues’ in • Heritage assets under threat or at risk from neglect or decay, or development pressures e.g. growth has the Topic 6. potential to lead to effects on historic landscapes and cause direct damage to archaeological sites, monuments and buildings. • Archaeological remains, both seen and unseen have the potential to be affected by new development areas; • Areas of significantly degraded landscape / townscape; • Distinctive historic environment assets are at risk from neglect or decay. • Effects on the historic environment from inappropriate and poor design and layout of housing, employment and retail provision. • Areas where, on current trends, there is likely to be further significant loss or erosion of landscape/ townscape character or quality; • Areas where development has had or is likely to have significant impact (direct and or indirect) upon the historic environment and/or people’s enjoyment of it; • Areas where landscape character or quality is being eroded because of changing farming or other land management practices (refer to Heritage at Risk schedule monument information for example); • Traffic congestion, air quality, noise pollution and other problems affecting the historic environment e.g. Increasing traffic flows and congestion affecting the integrity of historic environment assets and their settings leading to pressures on the quality of the historic landscape quality and the loss of character and integrity of the historic built environment and its setting; and • Areas where quality of life, including economic and social well being, is significantly affected by the above environmental problems. Topic 6 - Historic Sustainability issues (inter related problems/issues/opportunities) Analysis of the baseline information for the historic These have been environment environment is likely to suggest the following may be issues relating to the HE. included under ‘key Issues sustainability issues’ in • Environmental capacity issues Topic 6. • Preserving and enhancing the designated and non-designated historic environment resource – (non-designated assets are not afforded the same degree of protection as designated sites and areas – how might the WCs address this matter?); and • Conserving the industrial/commercial heritage of the area. Topic 6 - Historic Sustainability issues (inter related problems/issues/opportunities) Analysis of the baseline information for the historic These have been

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response English Heritage – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received environment environment is likely to suggest the following may be issues relating to the HE. included under ‘key Opportunities sustainability issues’ in • Addressing heritage at risk; Topic 6. • Improving the understanding of the historic environment by for example by completing CA appraisals and management plans; • Using the historic environment to contribute to local distinctiveness and a sense of place and community engagement (local lists?); • Promoting the innovative reuse of the existing building stock; • Improving awareness, involvement, and understanding of, and access to, the historic environment; • Heritage-led regeneration opportunities, heritage based tourism, traditional building skills and the wider environmental economy; and • Using the historic environment as an educational resource etc Topic 6 - Historic Sustainability objective Objective amended to environment We would question the need to refer explicitly to archaeological assets as I anticipate the objective intends to address all ‘Protect, maintain and facets of what constitutes the historic environment. It may be useful to include a footnote that defines the Historic enhance the historic Environment and Heritage Assets environment’.

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response Natural England – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received Topic 1 - We would question the accuracy and objectivity of para 2.2.17, which we advise would be better phrased as set out below. Para 2.2.17 amended. Biodiversity 2.2.17 The Wiltshire and Swindon Wildlife Sites Project undertakes monitoring of the CWS network and offers advice to private landowners about the special value of their land and how to manage this favourably; 54% of the CWS network is known to be under positive management.

Issue/Ref. Consultation response SA/SEA Response Environment Agency – Scoping Report addendum consultation comments received Topic Paper 2 – Revisions to the Waste Framework Directive have been implemented through the Waste Regulations 2011 Summary of these Land and Soil http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/128153.aspx revisions included in Resources Topic Paper 2. Topic Paper 2 – It is good the Landfill Directive is mentioned in the list of plans, but it is worth noting this is being implemented through the Summary of these Land and Soil Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business /regulation/31867.aspx In fact the Regulations included in Resources Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 should be mentioned in its own right in the list. http://www.environment- Topic Paper 2.

agency.gov.uk/business/topics/permitting/default.aspx.The importance of mentioning this is that there is likely to be requirements within the Core Strategy and subsequent planning permissions that also would need an Environmental Permit. These regulations relate to discharges to the water environment, as well as waste management and other regulation. Topic Paper 2 – The only other matter would be to include a requirement for adequate contaminated land risk assessment and remediation Included in list of key Land and Soil in Table 2.7 (page 18). This is mentioned in the proposed decision-aiding questions, but not in the table. sustainability issues. Resources Topic Paper 3 – You may also wish to include the following plans and programmes in this Topic Paper: All plans/ programmes Water Resources • Flood and Water Management Act 2010 has now been published. except and Flood Risk • The versions of PPS25 included in the list appear to be out of date, the relevant versions are: PPS25 (March 2010) River Avon Nutrient http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps25floodrisk and its practice guide (Dec 2009) Management Plan http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps25guideupdate (NMP) summarised. The • The document Underground, under threat: Groundwater protection policy and practice 2006 has been updated, the NMP has not been principles are similar, but the new EA document refers to Principal and Secondary Aquifers, rather than major and minor. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/40741.aspx completed at this time. • The South West River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) should be mentioned as well as the Thames RBMP. Parts of Wiltshire may also fall within the South East RBMP. SW - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/125027.aspx Thames - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/125035.aspx South East - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/124978.aspx • The River Avon Nutrient Management Plan that is being produced at the moment may also need to be included, but as it hasn’t been completed yet, I’m not sure if this is something you can include at this stage. This is being produced by EA and NE. Topic Paper 3 – With regard to how these should relate to your Core Strategy, they should be used as the evidence for why a Core Policy(s) Agreed. These Water Resources to protect and improve the water environment should be included. I have discussed this in our Aug 2011 response letter, in documents also inform and Flood Risk particular discussing Core Policy 51 and Strategic Objective 5. The Water Framework Directive (implemented by the evaluation of significant RBMPs) are becoming more of a priority for us all to consider, and will continue to do so for many years to come, so it is effects in the very important this is mentioned as part of your evidence base for the Core Strategy. sustainability appraisal. Topic Paper 4 – As mentioned above the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 should also be included in the list of plans in this Topic Agreed. This is included. Air quality and Paper. environmental pollution Topic 4 - Water I am pleased you have incorporated the suggestions of my colleague (email of 19 August 2011) in your addendum report. This has been included resources and However, in topic paper 4, we would request that you include the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 in the list of in Topic Paper 4. flood risk plans.