South Lakeland Local Plan Review Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report June 2021 www.southlakeland.gov.uk 1 Non-Technical Summary .............................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.2 What is Sustainability Appraisal? ....................................................... 1 1.3 What are the key issues and challenges facing South Lakeland? ..... 2 1.4 How will the appraisal be carried out? ............................................... 4 1.5 What are the next steps? ................................................................... 6 2 Introduction .................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Background to the South Lakeland Local Plan Review ...................... 7 2.2 Background to Sustainability Appraisal .............................................. 8 2.3 Purpose and Structure of this SA Scoping Report ........................... 12 2.4 Consultation ..................................................................................... 13 2.5 Next steps ........................................................................................ 14 2.6 Other Related Assessments ............................................................ 14 3 Task A1 – Context Review: Relevant Plans, Programmes, Strategies and Initiatives .................................................................................................... 16 3.2 Social Progress ................................................................................ 16 3.3 Environmental Protection and Natural Resources ........................... 19 3.4 Economic Development ................................................................... 26 4 Task A2 – Establishing the Baseline .......................................................... 29 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 29 4.2 Social Progress ................................................................................ 29 4.3 Environmental Protection and Natural Resources ........................... 50 4.4 Economic Development ................................................................... 88 5 Task A3 – Identifying Sustainability Issues and Problems ......................... 95 5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 95 5.2 Key Issues ....................................................................................... 95 6 Task A4 – Sustainability Appraisal Framework and Methodology ............ 101 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 101 6.2 Review of existing Cumbria SA Framework ................................... 101 6.3 Proposed SA Framework ............................................................... 102 6.4 Assessment Methodology .............................................................. 111 2 Appendix 1: Relevant Plans, Policies, Strategies and Initiatives .................... 117 International ............................................................................................. 117 National - Legislation ............................................................................... 126 National – Plans, Programmes, Strategies, Initiatives ............................. 131 Regional ................................................................................................... 142 Sub-Regional ........................................................................................... 145 Local…………………………………………………………………………….. 157 Appendix 2: Proposed SA Indicators .............................................................. 173 Social Indicators ....................................................................................... 173 Environmental Indicators .......................................................................... 184 Economic Indicators ................................................................................. 197 Appendix 3: Proposed Changes to Cumbria SA Framework .......................... 202 Appendix 4: Feedback from Statutory Bodies on draft SA Scoping Report (December 2019) ..................................................................................... 205 Appendix 5: Feedback on draft SA Scoping Report at Local Plan Review Early Engagement Stage (Early 2020) .............................................................. 220 List of Figures Figure 1: Local Plan area ................................................................................... 8 Figure 2: SA and Local Plan Processes ........................................................... 10 Figure 3: Consultation Questions ..................................................................... 14 Figure 4: Settlements in South Lakeland .......................................................... 30 Figure 5: Travel to Work Areas ......................................................................... 31 Figure 6: Commuting flows in and out of South Lakeland ................................ 32 Figure 7: Components of Population Change in South Lakeland 2001-2018 ... 34 Figure 8: Population Projections for South Lakeland ........................................ 35 Figure 9: Population Age Profile ....................................................................... 36 Figure 10: Population 65+ ................................................................................ 38 Figure 11: Housing Completions and Permissions ........................................... 39 Figure 12: Housing Affordability ....................................................................... 40 Figure 13: Second Homes – Percentage of Residential Properties by Parish .. 43 Figure 14: Health Deprivation ........................................................................... 45 Figure 15: 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation .................................................. 48 Figure 16: Statutory Biodiversity Designations ................................................. 51 Figure 17: Priority habitats................................................................................ 52 Figure 18: National Habitat Network Map ......................................................... 54 Figure 19: Cultural Heritage ............................................................................. 57 3 Figure 20: National Character Areas ................................................................ 59 Figure 21: Cumbria Landscape Character Types ............................................. 60 Figure 22: Dark Skies in South Lakeland ......................................................... 61 Figure 23: Carbon Dioxide Emissions .............................................................. 62 Figure 24: Reduction in CO2 emssions required to reach net zero by 2037 .... 64 Figure 25: Kendal Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) ............................... 66 Figure 26: Distribution of housing development 2003-20 ................................. 70 Figure 27: Water Quality .................................................................................. 71 Figure 28: Fluvial and Tidal Flood Risk ............................................................ 73 Figure 29: Surface Water Flooding ................................................................... 74 Figure 30: Coastal Strategy Policy Areas ......................................................... 78 Figure 31: Provisional Agricultural Land Classification ..................................... 80 Figure 32: Likelihood of Best and Most Versatile Land in South Lakeland ....... 81 Figure 33: Geology - Bedrock ........................................................................... 82 Figure 34: Geology - Superficial Deposits ........................................................ 83 Figure 36: Minerals Safeguarding Areas .......................................................... 84 Figure 37: Greenfield and Brownfield Development ......................................... 85 Figure 38: GVA growth ..................................................................................... 88 Figure 39: Employees by Industry .................................................................... 89 Figure 40: Socio Economic Category ............................................................... 90 Figure 41: Average weekly earnings ................................................................ 91 Figure 42: Empty Shops ................................................................................... 93 Figure 43: Proposed Assessment Form Template ......................................... 114 List of Tables Table 1: SEA Requirements and SA Process .................................................. 12 Table 2: Population Age Profile (2017 Mid Year Estimates, ONS) ................... 37 Table 3: Affordable Housing Provision ............................................................. 40 Table 4: Household Types................................................................................ 41 Table 5: Household Tenure .............................................................................. 42 Table 6: Estimated Population Change for a range of Health Issues 2016-2036 ......................................................................................................................... 46 Table 7: Deprivation (IMD 2019) .....................................................................