Wokingham Borough Council
Strategic Development Locations Supplementary Planning Documents and Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions Supplementary Planning Document Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental
Assessment)
In accordance with Regulations 5(1), (2) and (3); 12(1), (2) and (3); 13(1), (2), (3) and (4); and, Schedule 2 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 & Articles 1; 3; 4.1and 4.2; 5; 6 and Annex I of the European Directive 2001/42/EC
Environmental Report Consultation Document
June 2011 Development Brief Strategic Draft Environmental Report Development Locations Masterplan SPDs Wokingham Borough Council and Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions SPD
CONTENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ON THE DRAFT STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS DEVELOPMENT BRIEF SPD (PARTICIPATION VERSION)...... 2 Introduction...... 2 Background...... 2 Background...... 2 Draft Environmental Report for the Masterplan SPDs and Infrastructure Delivery SPD...... 3 Other matters ...... 4 APPENDIX 1 - DRAFT DETERMINATION STATEMENT ON THE NEED FOR A STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA) FOR THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS DEVELOPMENT BRIEF SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY AND CONTRIBUTIONS SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT...... 5 APPENDIX 2 – OUTLINE OF CONTENTS OF THE DRAFT MASTERPLAN SPDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY AND CONTRIBUTIONS SPD AND ITS MAIN OBJECTIVES...... 14 APPENDIX 3 – REVIEW OF POLICIES PLANS AND PROGRAMMES ...... 89 APPENDIX 4 – COPY OF CORE STRATEGY’S INDICATORS AND TARGETS...... 148
David Lock Associates 1 June 2011
Development Brief Strategic Draft Environmental Report Development Locations Masterplan SPDs Wokingham Borough Council and Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions SPD
Environmental Report on the Draft Strategic Development Locations Development Brief SPD (Participation Version).
Introduction
The Council is required to consider whether as part of a plan or programme that it produces a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is also required. An SEA would then assess whether the plan or programme is likely to have effects upon the environment. The European Commission1 and the Government2 have both produced guidance regarding how authorities can assess if a plan or programme is likely to require an SEA. David Lock Associates on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council in considering this matter has taken account of this advice.
Through this document, David Lock Associates has concluded that the Strategic Development Locations Development Brief SPDs (Masterplan SPDs) is likely to have an effect on the environment which then requires the production of an SEA. Through the formulation of proposals within the Masterplan SPDs, the Council will jointly progress an SEA to ensure that any environmental effects are appropriately considered. Consequently, the SEA detailed below will be refined as the Council progresses towards agreeing the final document.
Background
The guidance from both the European Commission and the Government indicates how authorities can comply with the requirements of Directive 2001/42/EC and the subsequent “Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004” (the SEA Regulations) which amplify its operation within England.
This report considers (as detailed in Appendix 1) whether the Masterplan SPDs and Infrastructure SPD are likely to generate environmental effects that warrant the production of an SEA. Its conclusions are that since the Masterplan SPDs and Infrastructure SPD will, once adopted, be amplifying policy within the adopted Core Strategy and provide criteria which will guide the way the consenting authority decides upon applications for development consent that are likely to generate environmental effects; an SEA is required.
An Appropriate Assessment is required where a plan is likely to have significant effects upon a European site (Regs 61 & 102 of Conservation of Habitats & Species Regs 2010). The Council accepts that the number of homes that are proposed for the SDLs fall within 7km of the Thames Basin Heaths SPA and will likely generate significant effects on the SPA. The Masterplan SPDs and Infrastructure SPD would require an assessment pursuant to Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. This is due to the likely significant effects from residential development and the potential recreational disturbance impacting upon the breeding success of the birds for which the SPA was designated. Such impacts could arise through residential development (as currently envisaged) by the Masterplan SPDs.
This expectation that the SPDs will require an assessment under the Habitats Directive indicates that an SEA of the SPDs will also be necessary. The Assessment has been conducted separately by Wokingham Borough Council and will be consulted separately.
1 “Implementation of Directive 2001/42 on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment” – available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/pdf/030923_sea_guidance.pdf. 2 “A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive” - Practical guidance on applying European Directive 2001/42/EC “on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment” – available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/practicalguidesea.
David Lock Associates 2 June 2011
Development Brief Strategic Draft Environmental Report Development Locations Masterplan SPDs Wokingham Borough Council and Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions SPD
Taking account of its conclusion that an SEA is required for the Masterplan SPDs and Infrastructure Delivery SPD, David Lock Associates, on behalf of the Council has produced a Draft Environmental Report3 which details the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the SPDs and the reasonable alternatives considered, taking into account the objectives of the SPDs. The draft Environmental Report is detailed below.
Draft Environmental Report for the Masterplan SPDs and Infrastructure Delivery SPD
Wokingham Borough Council has commissioned David Lock Associates to produce a draft Environmental Report4 which includes all the matters specified in Schedule 2 of the SEA Regulations (see below). The table refers to specific sections of Sustainability Appraisal (SA) (incorporating the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)), the entire contents of the SA are relevant to the Environmental Report (where it relates to consideration of the implications on objectives 10 to 19 of the Sustainability Objectives5).
As detailed at the end of the table, a non-technical summary accompanies the suite of documents included as part of the SA (inc SEA).
1. An outline of the contents and main objectives of the plan or Section 3, Table 2 – Table 5 programme, and of its relationship with other relevant plans and programmes. 2. The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment Section 3, paragraphs 3.12 – 3.41; and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan 3.54 – 3.70; 3.88 – 3.100; and, or programme. Table 6. 3. The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be Appendix A: SA Objectives 10-19 for significantly affected. Arborfield Garrison; South of the M4; North Wokingham; and South Wokingham. 4. Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan or programme including, in particular, those relating to any Section 3, paragraph 3.74 and areas of a particular environmental importance, such as areas Appendix 1 of the Environmental designated pursuant to Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the Report conservation of wild birds and the Habitats Directive. 5. The environmental protection objectives, established at international, Community or Member State level, which are Appendix 3 of the Environmental relevant to the plan or programme and the way those objectives Report and any environmental considera