Interim Sustainability Appraisal of Maidstone Local Plan Review Regulation 18B Consultation
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Maidstone Borough Council Interim Sustainability Appraisal of Maidstone Local Plan Review Regulation 18b Consultation Final report Prepared by LUC November 2020 Contents Interim SA of Maidstone Local Plan Review November 2020 Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 6 Introduction 3 SA findings for spatial strategic policies and detailed site allocation Context for the Maidstone Local Plan Review 3 policies 53 The Local Plan Review 6 Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Maidstone Town Centre 2050 Vision 53 Assessment 7 Maidstone Town Centre 56 Meeting the requirements of the SEA Regulations 7 Maidstone Urban Area 61 Structure of the SA Report 7 Edge of Maidstone 65 Garden Settlements 70 (Potential) Strategic Development Locations 83 Chapter 2 Methodology 12 Rural Service Centres 86 Harrietsham 87 Stage A: Scoping 14 Headcorn 91 Stage B: Developing and refining options and assessing Lenham 94 effects 14 Marden 97 Stage C: Preparing the Sustainability Appraisal Report 15 Staplehurst 100 Stage D: Consultation on the Local Plan Review and this Larger Villages 103 SA Report 15 Boughton Monchelsea 104 Stage E: Monitoring and implementation of the Local Coxheath 107 Plan Review 15 Eyhorne Street (Hollingbourne) 111 Appraisal methodology 15 Sutton Valence 114 Difficulties encountered 17 Yalding 118 Smaller Villages 121 Chapter 3 The Countryside 123 Sustainability context for development in Maidstone Borough 23 Chapter 7 Review of plans, policies and programmes 23 SA findings for thematic strategic Baseline information 25 policies and non-strategic policies 128 Key sustainability issues 26 Housing 128 Economic development 135 Chapter 4 Sustainable transport 141 SA findings for spatial vision and Infrastructure 144 objectives 33 The environment 149 Quality & design 154 Spatial vision and objectives 33 Chapter 5 Chapter 8 SA findings for the Borough spatial Cumulative effects 158 strategy 39 Introduction 158 Spatial strategy 39 Conclusions on the total effects of the policies in the Local Plan Review 158 LUC I i Contents Interim SA of Maidstone Local Plan Review November 2020 Contents Cumulative effects with development proposed by other relevant plans and projects 178 Chapter 9 Other reporting requirements 183 Habitats Regulations Assessment 183 Reasons for choosing the plan 184 Monitoring 186 Chapter 10 Next steps 192 Next steps 192 Appendix A Consultation comments A-1 Consultation comments on the SA Scoping Report A-2 Appendix B Policy review and baseline information B-1 Population, health and wellbeing B-1 Economy B-15 Transport connections and travel habits B-18 Air, land and water quality B-24 Climate change adaptation and mitigation B-36 Biodiversity B-43 Historic environment B-48 Landscape B-52 LUC I ii Chapter- 1 Introduction Interim SA of Maidstone Local Plan Review November 2020 Chapter 1 Introduction Sustainability Appraisal (SA) shows how well a plan performs against environmental, social and economic objectives - this chapter provides an introduction to the SA Maidstone Borough Council (the Council) commissioned LUC in November 2018 to carry out a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)) of their Local Plan Review. SA is an assessment process designed to consider and report upon the significant sustainability issues and effects of emerging plans and policies, including their reasonable alternatives. SA iteratively informs the plan-making process by helping to refine their, so that they maximise the benefits of sustainable development and avoid, or at least minimise, the potential for adverse effects. Context for the Maidstone Local Plan Review The borough of Maidstone covers approximately 40,000 hectares and is situated in the heart of Kent. Maidstone is the County Town of Kent and approximately 75% of its 171,800 population live in the urban area. The Maidstone urban area, located in the north west of the borough, has a strong commercial and retail town centre, with Maidstone comprising one of the largest retail centres in the south east. A substantial rural hinterland surrounds the urban area, part of which enjoys designation due to its high landscape and environmental quality. The borough encompasses a small section of the metropolitan green belt (1.3%), and 27% of the borough forms part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The borough is strategically located between the Channel Tunnel and London with direct connections to both via the M20 and M2 motorways. Three central railway stations in the town connect to London, Ashford, Tonbridge and to the Medway Towns. Maidstone Borough has a close interaction with the Medway Towns that provide a part of the borough's workforce. The town centre acts as the focus for retail LUC I 3 Chapter 1 Introduction Interim SA of Maidstone Local Plan Review November 2020 development throughout the borough and has an important Protection of the borough's distinct urban and rural heritage role to play in the visitor economy with the tourist information remains an important issue for the council. centre located at Maidstone Museum. The Council is making provision for new housing and The rural service centres of Harrietsham and Lenham lie employment growth, together with associated infrastructure, on the Ashford International - Maidstone East - London whilst at the same time emphasising that growth is Victoria line; and Headcorn, Marden and Staplehurst lie on the constrained by Maidstone's high quality environment, the Ashford International - Tonbridge - London Charing Cross and extent of the floodplain, and the limitations of the existing London Cannon Street lines. transport systems and infrastructure. There is also likely to be increased pressure to compete with nearby Ebbsfleet Garden The larger village of Yalding lies on the Medway Valley City, the Kent Thames Gateway and Ashford to attract inward Line, Paddock Wood - Maidstone West - Maidstone Barracks - investment. The challenge for the Maidstone Borough Local Strood. The Channel Tunnel link known as High Speed 1 Plan and this LPR is to manage the potential impacts of future (HS1) runs through the borough, providing fast links into growth to ensure that development takes place in a London (a service links to HS1 from Maidstone West station, sustainable manner that supports the local economy whilst via Strood to Ebbsfleet). A number of main highway routes safeguarding the valuable natural and built assets of the cross the borough including the A20, A229, A249, A274 and borough. A26. The location and extent of Maidstone Borough, the plan The borough is relatively prosperous with a considerable area, is shown in Figure 1.1. employment base and a lower than average unemployment rate compared to Kent. However, the borough has a relatively low wage economy that has led to out-commuting for higher paid work. The local housing market crosses one adjacent borough boundary into Tonbridge and Malling, with relationships identified with the Ashford, Medway, Tunbridge Wells, and London housing markets. All of these markets are influenced by their proximity to London, resulting in relatively high house prices. There are parts of the borough that would benefit from renewal, primarily including Maidstone town centre and there are pockets of deprivation that exist, particularly in the urban area. The rural service centres and larger villages provide services to the rural hinterland and some larger villages also play a vital part in the rural economy. There are a number of significant centres of economic activity in and around the rural settlements, and smaller commercial premises are dotted throughout the borough. Agriculture remains an important industry to the borough including the traditional production of soft fruits and associated haulage and storage facilities. The borough is fortunate to benefit from a number of built and natural assets including 41 conservation areas, over 2,000 listed buildings, 26 scheduled ancient monuments and 15 registered parks and gardens important for their special historic interest. Seven percent of the borough is covered by areas of ancient woodland, there are 63 local wildlife sites, 34 verges of nature conservation interest, 11 sites of special scientific interest, three local nature reserves and a European designated special area of conservation. The River Medway flows through the borough and the town centre and, together with its tributaries, is one of the borough's prime assets. LUC I 4 Maidstone Sustainability Appraisal Thurrock of Local Plan for Maidstone Borough Counci Bexley Dartford Figure 1.1: Maidstone District & Surrounding Local Authorities Medway Gravesham Maidstone Borough Neighbouring Local Authority Boundary Canterbury Sevenoaks Swale Tonbridge and Malling Maidstone Ashford Tunbridge Wells Wealden Folkestone and Hythe Rother 0 2.5 5 F km Map scale 1:2,000,000 @ A4 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2020 CB:MNi EB:Stenson_K LUC Fig1-1_10509_Maidstone_Borough_Area_A4L 27/11/2020 Source: OS Chapter 1 Introduction Interim SA of Maidstone Local Plan Review November 2020 further evidence gathering, including relevant discussions with The Local Plan Review developers/landowners, infrastructure and service providers, Maidstone Borough Council adopted its current Local key stakeholders and statutory undertakers, as appropriate. Plan on 25 October 2017, which sets out the planning strategy Key alternatives summarised within the Local Plan for the Borough up to 2031. Review relate back to the alternatives