Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 Strategic Growth Option – Comparative assessment background paper October 2018 This background paper supports the Eastleigh Borough Local Plan and provides an update of background information on the choice of the Strategic Growth Option. Any queries regarding the document should be sent to: Email: [email protected] Website: www.eastleigh.gov.uk/localplan2016-2036 Address: Local Plan team, Eastleigh Borough Council, Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9YN Contents PART 1: 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 2. Policy Context ...................................................................................................... 7 3. Criteria for assessing the Strategic Growth Options (SGOs) ............................... 9 4. Scope of assessment ........................................................................................ 12 5. Settlement hierarchy .......................................................................................... 24 6. Transport and accessibility ................................................................................ 26 7. Countryside gaps ............................................................................................... 83 8. Landscape sensitivity ......................................................................................... 92 9. Biodiversity ........................................................................................................ 98 10. Other Environmental Issues ......................................................................... 111 11. Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................ 118 PART 2: Viability and Deliverability (separate Background Paper) 1. Introduction Purpose of Report 1.1 The Local Plan allocates Strategic Growth Option (SGO) B/C (north / east of Bishopstoke / Fair Oak) with an associated north of Bishopstoke link road to the M3 junction 12. The Council considers this to be the preferred strategic growth option and that it has a reasonable prospect of delivery. This paper explains why the Council has reached these conclusions. How to Use This Report 1.2 The background paper explains in: • Part 1: The comparative assessment of the different SGOs, leading to the selection of SGO B/C. Section 11 provides a summary of all the following analysis, and conclusions leading to the selection of SGO B/C. • Part 2: The evidence regarding the deliverability of SGO B/C (which should be read alongside the Local Plan’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Viability Assessment). 1.3 This background paper seeks to draw together comprehensively and summarise the main aspects of all the technical evidence relating to the Strategic Growth Options. Therefore the following guidance may assist in ‘signposting’ the sections in the rest of the paper: Section 1. Introduction The remainder of this section sets out the main stages in preparing the Local Plan; and the key changes to this background paper since it was first published in December 2017 Part 1: Comparative Assessment 2. Policy Context This sets out a brief summary of the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Partnership for Urban South Hampshire’s (PUSH) Spatial Position Statement. 3. Criteria for Assessing the SGOs These are the main issues which have been assessed in this report by the Council’s planning officers (sections 6 to 9 below), and the Sustainability Appraisal undertaken by consultants for the Council (which also informs the following sections). 1 4. Scope of Assessment This explains how the 8 possible SGOs identified in the ‘Issues and Options’ paper (December 2015) have been reduced to a ‘short list’ of 4 possible SGOs: B, C, D or E. These have been further refined into the following permutations which form the basis of the rest of the assessment: B/C, C, D or E. (D or E also have supplementary areas). The section also explains why this is a proportionate range of options to assess. 5. Settlement Hierarchy The Local Plan sets out a settlement hierarchy of ‘tier 1’, ‘tier 2’and ‘tier 3’ settlements. This relates to the existing towns and villages in the Borough, and the range of jobs, shops and services found within them. This section provides a broad explanation of how the SGOs relate to this existing settlement hierarchy. 6. Transport / Accessibility This considers a range of evidence: • Proximity to existing and future facilities (jobs / shops, etc.) and existing travel patterns (as set out in this report); • Proximity to existing rail and bus services (as set out in this report); • Potential to provide new rail and bus services (summary of Council’s “SGO sites – Public Transport / Bus Service Options / Viability Study); • The Transport Assessment (TA). This introduces the transport model runs, and explains the level of transport interventions which have or have not been included in each scenario (e.g. public transport, new link roads, motorway junctions, local junctions, etc.) It then sets out some key results: • A comparison of all the SGOs in terms of average trip distances / carbon dioxide emissions / levels of walking, cycling, and public transport use; and in terms of highway delays (congestion) (summary of Transport Assessment Part 1); • More information regarding the level of delays at different junctions and in different areas associated with SGO B/C (summary of Transport Assessment Part 2); • The summary of the Transport Assessment covers the effects in parts of the Winchester / Southampton City Council areas and the South Downs National Park (as well as Eastleigh Borough). 2 7. Countryside Gaps None of the SGOs are in areas currently designated as countryside gaps. However it is considered that each of the SGOs is of a scale where the need for countryside gaps to be designated alongside the SGO to protect remaining areas of countryside should be considered. This section considers whether effective countryside gaps can be created alongside each SGO. This section should be read alongside the Council’s “Settlement Gap Policy Review”. This reviews the existing designated gaps and also provides an assessment of the SGOs. 8. Landscape Sensitivity This is an overarching assessment of the extent to which each SGO affects landscapes with high, medium and low sensitivity to change. This summarises the Council’s “Landscape Sensitivity Appraisal of Sites being considered for Strategic Development as part of the EBLP [to 2036]” This section also explains the relationship of SGO B/C to the South Downs National Park in landscape terms. 9. Biodiversity This provides a high level comparison of the potential for the different SGOs to affect international or national / local ecology designations and networks. This is not part of the full Habitat Regulations Assessment, which assesses the Local Plan incorporating SGOs B/C in accordance with the regulations in relation to international sites. However it does broadly consider the same issues more generally to assist with a comparison of the SGOs. It has been informed by the earlier HRA screening report (December 2015) which did provide an initial assessment of all SGOs. 10. Other Environmental Issues This compares the SGOs in terms of: agricultural land value; flood risk; noise / air quality; minerals safeguarding; public open space; heritage and utility infrastructure 11. Summary / Conclusions Part 2: Delivery and Viability This part of the paper focuses on the delivery issues associated with the selected SGO, SGO B/C. It considers: • The overall form of development, based on the Council’s masterplan (June 2018); • The delivery of the development in relation to ecology, flood risk / drainage, 3 heritage / archaeology, and mineral safeguarding issues. • The provision of infrastructure including new schools, health facilities and public transport services; • The provision of the new north of Bishopstoke Link Road, including the estimated cost and specific link road issues (e.g. rail bridge, junction improvements, ecology, flood risk / drainage, landscape, noise); • Overall viability and potential for public funding. Part 2 should be read in conjunction with the Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Viability Assessment. Background: How the Local Plan SGO proposals have emerged 1.4 There is a major need for new development in Eastleigh Borough over the Local Plan period to 2036, as identified by the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire’s (PUSH) Spatial Position Statement (2016) and supporting reports of objectively assessed need. 1.5 The Council’s Issues and Options paper (December 2015) set out 8 different Strategic Growth Options (SGOs) to help meet this need for development. Public consultation and a sustainability appraisal were undertaken on these options. 1.6 The full Council approved its “Development Distribution Strategy and Principles” paper on 15th December 2016. This set the principle of exploring the delivery of a substantial proportion of the new green field development needed in a Strategic Development Area (towards the upper end of the 4,000 – 6,000 dwelling range), in order to achieve a degree of self-containment and to deliver significant new infrastructure (including roads). 1.7 The emerging Local Plan is based on including SGO B/C (north of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak). The full Council noted the emerging Local Plan on 20th July 2017, and approved the Local Plan for formal consultation