Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan Scoping Report Puddletown Area Parish Council October 2018 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan October 2018 Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Cheryl Beattie Alastair Peattie Nick Chisholm-Batten Environmental Planner Associate Associate Revision History Revision Revision date Details Name Position V4 5th Oct 2018 Consultation version Nick Chisholm-Batten Associate Prepared for: Puddletown Area Parish Council Prepared by: AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited 3rd Floor, Portwall Place Portwall Lane Bristol BS1 6NA United Kingdom T: +44 117 901 7000 aecom.com © 2018 AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) in accordance with its contract with Locality (the “Client”) and 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. AECOM shall have no liability to any third party that makes use of or relies upon this document. Prepared for: Puddletown Area Parish Council AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan October 2018 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Air Quality .................................................................................................................................................... 6 3. Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................................. 8 4. Climate Change ..................................................................................................................................... 21 5. Landscape and Historic Environment .......................................................................................... 32 6. Land, Soil and Water Resources ..................................................................................................... 42 7. Population and Community .............................................................................................................. 46 8. Health and Wellbeing ........................................................................................................................... 55 9. Transportation ........................................................................................................................................ 59 10. Next Steps................................................................................................................................................ 63 Appendix I: SEA Framework ............................................................................................................................ 65 Prepared for: Puddletown Area Parish Council AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan October 2018 This page is intentionally blank. Prepared for: Puddletown Area Parish Council AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan October 2018 1. Introduction Background 1.1 AECOM has been commissioned to undertake an independent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in support of the emerging Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan (PNP). 1.2 The PNP is currently being prepared as a Neighbourhood Development Plan under the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan area was designated in January 2014, and the PNP is being prepared in the context of the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan (2015). The PNP is at an advanced stage of development, with evidence currently being collected to facilitate the development of the plan and develop policies. Key information relating to the PNP is presented below in Ta ble 1.1. Table 1.1: Key facts relating to the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan Name of Responsible Authority Puddletown Area Parish Council Title of Plan Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan Subject Neighbourhood Planning Purpose The Puddletown 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 West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan 2015. The emerging Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan will be used to guide and shape development within the designated Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan area. Timescale To 2036 Area covered by the plan The Neighbourhood Plan area covers the parish of Puddletown in West Dorset (Figure 1.1) Summary of content The Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan will set out a vision, objectives, a strategy and range of policies to guide future development within the designated Neighbourhood Plan area. This will include allocations for housing. Plan contact point Peter Churchill, Chair, Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan Email address: [email protected] Prepared for: Puddletown Area Parish Council AECOM 1 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan October 2018 Prepared for: Puddletown Area Parish Council AECOM 2 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan October 2018 Relationship of the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan with the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan 1.3 The PNP is being prepared in the context of the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan (2015). The Local Plan sets out the spatial plan for the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland area up until 2031. Neighbourhood Plans will form part of the development framework for West Dorset, alongside the ‘parent’ document – the Local Plan. Neighbourhood Plans are required to be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the adopted Local Plan and can develop policies and proposals to address local place-based issues. In this way it is intended for the Local Plan to provide a clear overall strategic direction for development in West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, whilst enabling finer detail to be determined through the neighbourhood planning process where appropriate. 1.4 The Local Plan is currently under review, in response to the Inspector’s report on the examination of the Local Plan, recommending an early review of the plan to identify additional housing land capable of meeting housing needs to 2036. Within this review, the Council will also consider revisions to other policies in response to changes in national policy and legislation. Issues and Options for the review of the Local Plan were consulted upon between February and April 2017. The comments received during consultation have been considered by the Council who are now preparing a ‘preferred options’ document. 1.5 The 2015 Local Plan does not identify a housing requirement target, or further employment growth for the Puddletown area, as the strategy focuses the majority of growth in the larger settlements of Beaminster, Bridport, Chickerell, Crossways, Dorchester, Littlemoor, Lyme Regis, Portland, Sherborne, and Weymouth. Policy SUS1 identifies that provisions are made in the Local Plan for a deliverable supply of housing land to accommodate around 15,500 new dwellings (around 775 dwellings a year) across the Plan area, and at least 43ha of employment land in West Dorset (with a further 17ha in Weymouth and Portland). 1.6 The Local Plan defines a development boundary around the settlement of Puddletown, within which development will generally be accepted. Policy SUS2 identifies that development in rural areas will be directed to the settlements with defined development boundaries, and will take place at an appropriate scale to the size of the settlement. The policy identifies that within the defined development boundaries residential, employment and other development to meet the needs of the local area will normally be permitted. Policy SUS5 identifies four general principles for Neighbourhood Plans, in that they should: ñ Show how they are contributing towards the strategic objectives of the Local Plan and be in general conformity with its approach. ñ Clearly set out how they will promote sustainable development in their area at the same level or over and above that which would otherwise be delivered through the Local Plan. ñ Have due regard to information on local need for new homes, jobs and facilities, for their plan area and any outlying areas which they may serve. ñ Demonstrate that they are credible, justifiable and achievable. Prepared for: Puddletown Area Parish Council AECOM 3 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Scoping Report Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan October 2018 Vision for the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan 1.7 The Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan has developed the following draft vision during the early stages of plan development: In 2036 Puddletown will be a safe, thriving, well - connected and sustainable village, maintaining its character and sense of community spirit, and encompassing a wide range of age and income groups. SEA Explained 1.8 The PNP has been screened in by West Dorset District Council as requiring a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). SEA