Wiltshire Local Development Framework Working towards a core strategy for Wiltshire Interim sustainability appraisal report Wiltshire Core Strategy Consultation June 2011 Wiltshire Council Information about Wiltshire Council services can be made available on request in other languages including BSL and formats such as large print and audio. Please contact the council on 0300 456 0100, by textphone on 01225 712500 or by email on [email protected]. Wiltshire Core Strategy Interim Sustainability Appraisal Report June 2011 Contents Page List of abbreviations List of tables 1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction and background.......................................................................... 1 1.2 Sustainability appraisal – purpose and requirements .................................... 1 1.3 The Wiltshire Core Strategy ........................................................................... 2 1.4 Habitats Regulations Assessment ................................................................. 3 1.5 Structure of this report.................................................................................... 7 2 Methodology................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Approach adopted in carrying out the sustainability appraisal ....................... 9 2.2 Sustainability appraisal stages....................................................................... 9 2.3 Developing and refining policies and ‘reasonable alternatives’.................... 10 2.4 Assessing the significance of effects ........................................................... 11 2.5 Consideration of potential mitigation measures ........................................... 13 2.6 Appraisal limitations, difficulties encountered and assumptions made ........ 13 2.7 Consultation requirements........................................................................... 14 3 Sustainability Appraisal context and objectives (scoping stage) ......... 16 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 16 3.2 Relationship with other plans and programmes (policy context) and baseline evidence ................................................................................. 17 3.3 Key sustainability issues in Wiltshire............................................................ 17 3.4 Likely evolution of the area without implementation of the Core Strategy.... 18 3.5 Sustainability appraisal framework............................................................... 23 4 Summary of ‘Wiltshire 2026’ Sustainability Appraisal findings............. 24 4.1 What is ‘Wiltshire 2026’?.............................................................................. 24 4.2 Vision and objectives ................................................................................... 25 4.3 Spatial strategy and settlement hierarchy .................................................... 26 4.4 Strategic sites............................................................................................... 28 5 Wiltshire Core Strategy Core Policies...................................................... 31 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 31 5.2 Core Strategy spatial vision and strategic objectives................................... 32 5.3 Core policy 1: The settlement strategy......................................................... 33 5.4 Core policy 2: Delivery strategy ................................................................... 37 5.5 Core Policy 3: Infrastructure requirements................................................... 47 5.6 Core Policy 4: Chippenham Central Area of Opportunity............................. 50 5.7 Core Policy 5: Spatial Strategy: Chippenham Community Area .................. 52 5.8 Core Policy 6: Trowbridge Vision Areas of Opportunity ............................... 70 5.9 Core Policy 7: Spatial Strategy: Trowbridge Community Area..................... 71 5.10 Core Policy 8: Trowbridge Low-Carbon/ Renewable Energy Network......... 76 5.11 Core Policy 9: Spatial Strategy: Bradford on Avon Community Area........... 78 5.12 Core Policy 10: Spatial Strategy: Calne Community Area ........................... 82 5.13 Core Policy 11: Spatial Strategy: Corsham Community Area ...................... 84 5.14 Core Policy 12: Spatial Strategy: Devizes Community Area........................ 87 5.15 Core Policy 13: Spatial Strategy: Malmesbury Community Area ................. 90 5.16 Core Policy 14: Spatial Strategy: Marlborough Community Area................. 92 5.17 Core Policy 15: Spatial Strategy: Melksham Community Area .................... 93 5.18 Core Policy 16: Spatial Strategy: Pewsey Community Area ........................ 96 5.19 Core Policy 17: Spatial Strategy: Tidworth/ Ludgershall Community Area .. 98 5.20 Core Policy 18: Spatial Strategy: Warminster Community Area .................. 99 5.21 Core Policy 19: Spatial Strategy: Westbury Community Area.................... 105 5.22 Core Policy 20: Spatial Strategy: Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area ................................................................. 109 5.23 Core Policy 21: Additional employment Land ............................................ 112 5.24 Core Policy 22: Existing employment sites ................................................ 120 5.25 Core Policy 23: Economic regeneration..................................................... 122 5.26 Core Policy 24: Re-use of military establishments..................................... 124 5.27 Core Policy 25: Rural diversification and enterprise................................... 126 5.28 Core Policy 26: Sustainable construction and low-carbon energy ............. 128 5.29 Core Policy 27: Standalone renewable energy Installations ...................... 130 5.30 Core Policy 28: Providing affordable homes .............................................. 132 5.31 Core Policy 29: Meeting housing needs..................................................... 135 5.32 Core Policy 30: Lifetime Homes standards ................................................ 136 5.33 Core Policy 31: Meeting the needs of gypsies and travellers..................... 137 5.34 Core Policy 32: Protection of services and community facilities ................ 139 5.35 Core Policy 33: Biodiversity and geodiversity ............................................ 140 5.36 Core Policy 34: Landscape ........................................................................ 144 5.37 Core Policy 35: Green infrastructure.......................................................... 147 5.38 Core Policy 36: Green Infrastructure development management policy.... 149 5.39 Core Policy 37: Ensuring high quality design and place shaping outcomes151 5.40 Core Policy 38: Ensuring protection of the historic environment................ 152 5.41 Core Policy 39: Housing density ................................................................ 154 5.42 Core Policy 40: The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site and its Setting.......................... 157 5.43 Core Policy 41: Retail and leisure .............................................................. 158 5.44 Core Policy 42: Sustainable transport........................................................ 161 5.45 Core Policy 43: Transport and development.............................................. 163 5.46 Core Policy 44: Development impacts on the transport network................ 165 5.47 Core Policy 45: Transport strategies.......................................................... 166 5.48 Core Policy 46: Demand management ...................................................... 168 5.49 Core Policy 47: Movement of goods .......................................................... 169 5.50 Core Policy 48: Strategic transport network............................................... 171 5.51 Core Policy 49: Flood risk .......................................................................... 172 5.52 Core Policy 50: Water efficiency and the River Avon Special Area of Conservation ................................................................................. 173 5.53 Core Policy 51: Pollution and phosphate levels in the water environment 174 6 Significant effects and overall sustainability of the Core Strategy..... 176 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 176 6.2 How has the sustainability appraisal influenced the Core Strategy process so far?.................................................................... 176 6.3 Significant effects of the Core Strategy and recommended policy options 177 6.4 Cumulative effects and other effects of the Core Strategy......................... 189 6.5 Potential mitigation measures for likely significant effects ......................... 191 6.6 Overall sustainability of the Core Strategy ................................................. 193 7 Monitoring of significant effects............................................................. 195 7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 195 7.2 Proposed significant effects monitoring indicators ..................................... 196 8 Next steps................................................................................................