Hambleton Sustainability Appraisal Agenda Supplement for Cabinet, 02
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Public Document Pack AGENDA Page No 6. LOCAL PLAN PUBLICATION CONSULTATION 1 - 234 This report seeks approval of the Hambleton Local Plan: Publication Draft and Policies Map, attached at Annex 1 and 2 of the report, for formal publication, representations and submission to the Secretary of State for public examination. It also seeks approval for publication of the Local Development Scheme. In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the Hambleton Local Development Scheme is published; the Hambleton Local Plan: Publication Draft as attached at Annex 1 and the Policies Map at Annex 2 of the report are approved for the purpose of publication for representations to be made commencing on or around the 23rd July 2019; the Sustainability Appraisal and Infrastructure Delivery Plan are published for consultation; the Director of Planning and Economy be authorised to make minor amendments and graphical improvements that (taken together) do not materially affect the policies set out in the Local Plan prior to publication; in the event of modifications being required to the Hambleton Local Plan: Publication Draft or supporting documentation prior to its submission, the Director of Economy and Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Planning be authorised to make these changes and undertake any necessary pre- submission consultation; and following the period of representation the Hambleton Local Plan: Publication Draft and Policies Map, proposed minor modifications and all relevant documentation is submitted to the Secretary of State for public examination by an independent planning inspector. This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 6 Hambleton Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal SA Report July 2019 Prepared for: Hambleton District Council ii Page 1 Hambleton Local Plan: Sustainability Appraisal Limitations The conclusions and recommendations contained in this Report are based upon information provided by others and upon the assumption that all relevant information has been provided by those parties from whom it has been requested and that such information is accurate. Information obtained by AECOM has not been independently verified by AECOM, unless otherwise stated in the Report. The methodology adopted and the sources of information used by AECOM in providing its services are outlined in this Report. The work described in this Report was undertaken fr o m 2018 - 2019 in and is based on the conditions encountered and the information available during the said period of time. The scope of this Report and the services are accordingly factually limited by these circumstances. Where assessments of works or costs identified in this Report are made, such assessments are based upon the information available at the time and where appropriate are subject to further investigations or information which may become available. AECOM disclaim any undertaking or obligation to advise any person of any change in any matter affecting the Report, which may come or be brought to ‘AECOM’ attention after the date of the Report. Certain statements made in the Report that are not historical facts may constitute estimates, projections or other forward-looking statements and even though they are based on reasonable assumptions as of the date of the Report, such forward-looking statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted. AECOM specifically does not guarantee or warrant any estimate or projections contained in this Report. Where field investigations are carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to meet the stated objectives of the services. The results of any measurements taken may vary spatially or with time and further confirmatory measurements should be made after any significant delay in issuing this Report. Copyright © This Report is the copyright of AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. June 2019 Page 2 iii Hambleton Local Plan: Sustainability Appraisal CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. INTRODUCTION TO SCOPING .................................................................................................................... 5 3. THE HAMBLETON LOCAL PLAN................................................................................................................ 8 4. THE BASELINE POSITION .......................................................................................................................... 11 5. CONTEXTUAL REVIEW................................................................................................................................ 53 6. THE KEY ISSUES AND THE SA FRAMEWORK ................................................................................... 74 7. CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES................................................................................................... 80 8. ALTERNATIVES FOR THE SPATIAL STRATEGY ............................................................................... 81 9. APPRAISAL OF SITE OPTIONS ................................................................................................................ 87 10. OPTIONS FOR OTHER PLAN ISSUES .................................................................................................... 96 11. APPRAISAL OF THE DRAFT PLAN .......................................................................................................101 12. MITIGATION AND ENHANCEME NT .......................................................................................................106 13. MONITORING.................................................................................................................................................109 June 2019 Page 3 iv Hambleton Local Plan: Sustainability Appraisal 1. Introduction 1.1 Background 1.1.1 AECOM is commissioned to undertake Sustainability Appraisal (SA) in support of the Hambleton Local Plan. 1.1.2 SA is a mechanism for considering and communicating the likely effects of a draft plan, and alternatives, in terms of sustainability issues, with a view to avoiding and mitigating adverse effects and maximising the positives. SA of the Local Plan is a legal requirement. 1.1.3 This SA Report documents the SA process, setting out an appraisal of the sustainability implications of the Pre-Submission version of the Local Plan (taking account of consultation responses), and capturing how the SA process has influenced the development of the Plan as it has progressed. Figure 1.1 below illustrates the SA Outputs that have been prepared at key stages of the Plan-making process. Figure 1.1: Plan timeline Plan milestone Issues and options Preferred options Publication Draft consultation document consultation Plan document Consultation January – February October 2016 – July – September dates 2015 January 2017 2019 SA Scoping Report Interim SA Report SA Report SA Outputs We are here 1.2 The SA process 1.2.1 Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is a process for helping to ensure that Local Plans achieve an appropriate balance between environmental, economic and social objectives. SA should help to identify the sustainability implications of different plan approaches and recommend ways to reduce any negative effects and to increase the positive outcomes. 1.2.2 SA is also a tool for communicating the likely effects of a Plan (and any reasonable alternatives), explaining the decisions taken with regards to the approach decided upon, and encouraging engagement from key stakeholders such as local communities, businesses and plan-makers. 1.2.3 Although SA can be applied flexibly, it is a legal requirement under the ‘Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (which were prepared in order to transpose into national law the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive). 1.2.4 The regulations set out prescribed processes that must be followed. In particular the Regulations require that a report is published for consultation alongside the draft plan June 2019 Page 4 1 Hambleton Local Plan: Sustainability Appraisal that ‘identifies, describes and evaluates’ the likely significant effects of implementing ‘the plan, and reasonable alternatives’. The SA/SEA report must then be taken into account, alongside consultation responses when finalising the plan. 1.2.5 SA/SEA can be viewed as a four-stage process that produces a number of statutory and non-statutory outputs. As illustrated in Figure 1.2 below, ‘Scoping’ is a mandatory process under the SEA Directive, but the publication of a scoping report is a voluntary (but useful) output. Figure 1.2: SA/SEA as a four stage process 1.3 Schedule of legal compliance 1.3.1 The following table sets out how this SA Report has been prepared to ensure compliance with Schedule 2, Regulation 12(3) of the SEA Regulations Table 1.1. Demonstrating Schedule 2 compliance Schedule 2 Requirements Evidence An outline of the contents and main objectives of the • Scoping Report. plan or programme, and of its relationship with other relevant plans and programmes. • Section 3 of this SA Report. The relevant aspects of the current state of the • Scoping Report environment and the lik ely evolution thereof without implementation of