Strategic Environmental Assessment 1
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Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Scoping Report Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group December 2019 Strategic Environmental Assessment for Scoping Report the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Jessica Playle Ryan Putt Nick Chisholm-Batten Graduate Environmental Associate Director Environmental Consultant Consultant Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position V1.0 16th December Initial draft version for 16th December Nick Chisholm- Associate 2019 Neighbourhood Group 2019 Batten Director comment V2.0 23rd December Consultation version 23rd December Nick Chisholm- Associate 2019 2019 Batten Director Prepared for: Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Prepared by: AECOM Limited Portwall Place Portwall Lane Bristol BS1 6NA United Kingdom aecom.com © 2019 AECOM Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) for use of Locality (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for Scoping Report the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Table of Contents 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Relationship of the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan with the Arun Local Plan and the South Downs National Park Local Plan ......................................................................................................................... 2 SEA Explained ........................................................................................................................................ 3 This Scoping Report ................................................................................................................................ 3 Structure of this Report ........................................................................................................................... 4 2. Air Quality .................................................................................................................................................. 5 3. Biodiversity and Geodiversity ....................................................................................................... 7 4. Climate Change .................................................................................................................................. 14 5. Landscape ............................................................................................................................................. 23 6. Historic Environment ....................................................................................................................... 30 7. Land, Soil and Water Resources ............................................................................................... 37 8. Population and Community ......................................................................................................... 42 9. Health and Wellbeing ....................................................................................................................... 50 10. Transportation ..................................................................................................................................... 54 11. Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................. 58 Subsequent stages for the SEA process .............................................................................................. 58 Consultation on the Scoping Report ..................................................................................................... 58 Prepared for: Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for Scoping Report the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Prepared for: Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Walberton Neighbourhood Plan 1. Introduction Background 1.1 AECOM has been commissioned to undertake an independent Strategic Environmental Assessment in support of Walberton Parish’s Neighbourhood Plan, which is a revision of the adopted Neighbourhood Plan which was ‘made’ in 2017. The ‘made’ Neighbourhood Plan is being reviewed in order to align itself with the Arun Local Plan which was adopted in 2018. 1.2 The Walberton Neighbourhood Plan is currently being prepared as a Neighbourhood Development Plan under the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. 1.3 It is currently anticipated that the Neighbourhood Plan will be submitted to Arun District Council in 2020 and undergo a referendum later that year. 1.4 Key information relating to the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan is presented in Table 1.1. Table 1.1: Key facts relating to the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Name of Responsible Walberton Parish Council Authority Title of Plan Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Subject Neighbourhood planning Purpose The Walberton Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared as a Neighbourhood Development Plan under the Localism Act 2011 and Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The Plan will be in general conformity with the Arun Local Plan 2018. The Walberton Neighbourhood Plan will be used to guide and shape development within the Neighbourhood Plan area. Timescale To 2036 Area covered by the plan The Walberton Neighbourhood Plan area covers the parish of Walberton in West Sussex (Figure 1.1). Summary of content The Walberton Neighbourhood Plan will set out a vision, strategy and range of policies for the Neighbourhood Plan area. Plan contact point Name: Peter Brown Email address: [email protected] Prepared for: Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM 1 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Walberton Neighbourhood Plan Relationship of the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan with the Arun Local Plan and the South Downs National Park Local Plan 1.5 The Walberton Neighbourhood Plan area extends across two Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) (Arun District Council (ADC) and South Downs National Park (SDNP)). This is given the north eastern part of the parish is within the South Downs National Park. As such, where appropriate, given the geographic coverage of the parish, the Neighbourhood Plan should be in general conformity with the strategic policies for both Local Planning Authorities. 1.6 The adopted Walberton Neighbourhood Plan was ‘made’ by Arun District Council on the 8th March 2017 following a Referendum at which 95.66% of residents voted in favour. Following the adoption of the Arun Local Plan 2018, it has been necessary to review and amend the Walberton Neighbourhood Plan to ensure the two documents are in alignment and reflect the new policies. 1.7 In the context of the Neighbourhood Plan area, Walberton is designated as a ‘village’ within the Arun Local Plan, along with the settlements of Binsted, and Fontwell. The Local Plan states that the village of Walberton has a limited range of facilities and services. Comparatively, the settlements of Fontwell and Binsted have very limited services and facilities. Policy H SP1 ‘The Housing Requirement’1 includes a strategic allocation of 400 dwellings (allocation SD6) in Fontwell, which partly overlaps with the Neighbourhood Plan area. The policy also notes that additional non-strategic allocations will be made across the District through emerging Neighbourhood Plans or reviews of ‘made’ Neighbourhood Plans. In this context ADC have suggested that Walberton Parish is required to deliver sites(s) for 60 new dwellings. 1.8 Adopted in July 2019, the South Downs Local Plan2 (2014-2033) sets out how the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) will manage development over the plan period, based on the two statutory purposes and duty for national parks, namely: • Statutory Purpose: To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area; • Statutory Purpose: To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park by the public; and • Duty: To seek to foster the social and economic well-being of the local communities within the National Park in pursuit of their statutory purposes. 1.9 The provisions of the South Downs National Park Local Plan and Partnership Management Plan are further discussed under the ‘Landscape’ SEA theme in this Scoping Report. 1.10 Neighbourhood plans will form part of the development plan for Arun and the South Downs, alongside, but not as a replacement for the Local Plans. Neighbourhood plans are required to be in general conformity with the Local Plans and can develop policies and proposals to address local place-based issues. In this way it is intended for the Local Plans to provide a clear overall strategic direction for development in Arun and the South Downs,