Eden Draft Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal - Scoping Report Updated July 2014 Contents Page 1. Non-Technical Summary ........................................................................1 Introduction ...............................................................................................1 The Draft Local Plan .................................................................................1 Purpose of the Sustainability Appraisal .....................................................1 Consultation ..............................................................................................3 2. Introduction .............................................................................................4 Characteristics of Eden .............................................................................4 Eden Local Plan ........................................................................................4 Sustainability and Planning .......................................................................5 3. Statutory requirements of the Sustainability Appraisal ......................6 4. What is the scope of the SA? ................................................................7 What is the sustainability context? ............................................................7 What is the plan trying to achieve? ...........................................................7 What is our current position?.....................................................................9 5. Other Plans or Strategies ..................................................................... 10 Habitats Regulations Assessment ........................................................... 10 Equalities Impact Assessment ................................................................ 10 Rural Proofing ......................................................................................... 10 6. Air Quality ............................................................................................. 11 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 11 Background Information .......................................................................... 11 Local Context .......................................................................................... 13 Significant Issues to Consider ................................................................. 14 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 14 7. Biodiversity ........................................................................................... 15 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 15 Background Information .......................................................................... 15 Local Context .......................................................................................... 22 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 27 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 27 8. Climate Change Mitigation ................................................................... 28 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 28 Background Information .......................................................................... 28 i Local Context .......................................................................................... 31 Significant Issues to Consider ................................................................. 33 9. Community and Wellbeing ................................................................... 34 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 34 Background Information .......................................................................... 34 Local Context .......................................................................................... 37 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 40 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 40 10. Economy ............................................................................................... 41 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 41 Background Information .......................................................................... 41 Local Context .......................................................................................... 44 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 47 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 47 11. Housing ................................................................................................. 49 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 49 Background Information .......................................................................... 49 Local Context .......................................................................................... 51 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 52 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 52 12. Landscape and Cultural Heritage ........................................................ 53 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 53 Background Information .......................................................................... 53 Local Context .......................................................................................... 57 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 59 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 60 13. Soil ......................................................................................................... 61 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 61 Background Information .......................................................................... 61 Local Context .......................................................................................... 63 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 63 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 64 14. Transport and Accessibility ................................................................. 65 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 65 Background Information .......................................................................... 65 ii Local Context .......................................................................................... 66 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 67 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 67 15. Waste ..................................................................................................... 68 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 68 Background Information .......................................................................... 68 Local Context .......................................................................................... 70 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 72 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 72 16. Water ...................................................................................................... 73 Sources of Information ............................................................................ 73 Background Information .......................................................................... 73 Local Context .......................................................................................... 81 Sustainability Issues to Consider ............................................................ 85 Likely Future Without the Plan ................................................................ 85 17. Developing the SA Framework ............................................................ 86 Relationship of the Eden’s Framework with the SEA Directive ............... 86 Allocations of Land .................................................................................. 97 Assessing the Sustainability of Proposals ............................................... 97 Next Steps............................................................................................. 100 18. Consulting on the Scope of the SA ................................................... 101 19. Changes made following consultation…………………………………104 Appendix 1 – List of other Plans & Programmes iii 1. Non-Technical Summary Introduction 1.1 This document is the scoping stage of sustainability appraisal, used to inform the development of Eden’s draft Local Plan. In the early stages of plan making, it is necessary to outline any potential impacts that may arise as a result of an emerging plan. 1.2 The Council