Sutherland Local Plan Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report April 2006 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The purpose of this Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) scoping report is to set out sufficient information on the Sutherland Local Plan to enable the Consultation Authorities to form a view on the consultation periods and the scope and level of detail that will be appropriate for the environmental report. 1.2 This report has been prepared in accordance with Regulation 17 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004. 1.3 The Highland Council is also preparing Local Plans for the Skye and Lochalsh and Lochaber areas. Separate scoping reports have been prepared for these plans, but it is intended that as far as possible, a consistent approach is taken both to the preparation of the plans and to the methodology and format of the strategic environmental assessment. 1.4 The Highland Council’s approach to carrying out the Strategic Environmental Assessment is based on the methodology developed whilst preparing the retrospective SEA for the Wester Ross Local Plan, in partnership with the Consultation Authorities. In addition to carrying out the SEA, The Council will also carry out a sustainability appraisal of the Local Plan, to balance environmental considerations with social and economic objectives. 1.5 For further information on the Sutherland Local Plan, please contact Brian Mackenzie on 01463 702276 ([email protected]) or Katie Briggs on 01463 702271 ([email protected]). 2. KEY FACTS Sutherland Local Plan 2.1 The Sutherland Local Plan area (see Map) extends over 6,071 square kilometres and is an area of high quality natural environment and diverse historical background. It has a population of 13,800 and at 2.2 persons per square kilometre, is the most sparsely populated area of Highland. Sutherland has a significantly higher proportion than Highland of its population aged 65 and over (21.9% compared to 19.6%) and a lower proportion aged under 16 (17.8% compared to 19.6%). There are currently around 7800 residential addresses within Sutherland. Some 18% of these are not occupied by permanent residents (second/holiday homes and vacant properties). 2.2 The key natural and cultural heritage features present in Sutherland are indicated in the maps in Appendix A. 2.3 Natural heritage designations cover a diverse range of habitats in Sutherland. In terms of international designations there are two wetland RAMSAR sites: one covering Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands; and the other covering Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet. There are also many European designated sites, with 24 candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) for habitats and species and 12 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for wild birds, both of which afford a high level of protection. There are 94 nationally designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which can cover important biological, geomorphological and geological areas. There are also 4 National Nature Reserves, which are also SSSI’s, but are managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) or under agreement with land owners. Table 1: Nature conservation designations Area % of Area in % of coverage in Sutherland Highland Highland Sutherland LP area (ha.) (ha.) RAMSAR site 94,470 15.4% 167,877 6.87% Candidate Special Areas of 119,015 19.4% 542,436 20.8% Conservation Special Protection Areas 101,630 16.5% 310,420 11.9% Sites of Special Scientific Interest 155,288 25.3% 443,091 17% National Nature Reserves 1,582 0.3% 84,792 3.3% Total designated for nature 156,988 25.6% 615,958 23.6% conservation (*) (*) This accounts for overlaps between different designations – cSACs and SPAs are also SSSI 2.4 The quality and diversity of the Sutherland Landscape is evident in the designation of 4 National Scenic Areas (NSAs): Assynt/Coigach, North West Sutherland, Kyle of Tongue and the Dornoch Firth. These comprise mainly mountainous and contrasting coastal scenery. 2.5 In terms of the local or regional landscape designations there are 5 existing Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) at Loch Fleet, Loch Migdale, Loch Brora, Ben Klibreck and Ben Griams. Additional AGLV are proposed through the Structure Plan for the coastal areas of Cape Wrath, Strathy Point and Loch Eriboll. 2.6 Any building or structure which is considered to be of special architectural or historic interest is listed by Scottish Ministers. Those of national importance are listed as “Category A” (e.g. Dunrobin Castle), those of regional importance are listed as “Category B”, and those of local importance are listed as “Category C”. There are some 322 listed buildings in Sutherland. Table 2: Listed buildings in Sutherland Category of Listed Building Number A 19 B 187 C 116 Total Listed Buildings in Sutherland 322 2.7 Areas which are considered to have special architectural or historic interest are designated as Conservation Areas. At present there is only one Conservation Area in Sutherland which covers Dornoch’s historic core. There are proposals in existing Local Plans to designate the core areas of Embo, Golspie and Helmsdale, as well as the whole of Achfary. 2.8 There are 4 areas in Sutherland that are listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland: Dunrobin Castle, Kildonan Lodge, Skibo Castle and Tongue House. National guidance requires the settings as well as the gardens themselves to be safeguarded from unsympathetic development. 2.9 Sutherland’s history and relative remoteness means many archaeological features of all periods remain well-preserved, with almost 8,000 features recorded, including 294 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and many more yet to be discovered. The arguably more significant archaeological features include: Dornoch Cathedral, Dunrobin Castle, the Bronze Age house-sites, field systems, and Neolithic cairns found around Ord Hill in Lairg, the many brochs, and the ruins of villages and townships abandoned during the clearances. The Local Plan 2.10 The new Local Plan will replace the existing plans: Golspie and Lairg Local Plan adopted July 1983; North-West Sutherland Local Plan adopted May 1987; South and East Sutherland Local Plan adopted May 2000; and Tongue and Farr Local Plan adopted October 1995. 2.11 Initial work on the Local Plan has involved the circulation of information on the Local Plan to every household in Sutherland, and the preparation of three background papers – on housing, economic development and environment – for feedback. A large number of comments have been received and these are being drawn together along with ongoing work on site options. It is proposed that this initial work will inform the site options/main issues report and community workshops planned for late August/September 2006 with a Deposit Draft Local Plan being available in early 2007. 2.12 It is intended that the policy approach within the new Local Plan for Sutherland will follow as closely as possible the format of the Wester Ross Local Plan, which is nearing adoption. This Local Plan has adopted a relatively straightforward policy approach, involving the following key elements: Settlement Development Areas are identified for most towns and villages as the preferred areas for most types of development, including housing. These make best use of existing infrastructure and services and protect the character of the surrounding countryside. Land is specifically allocated for general housing, affordable housing, business and industry, community uses and redevelopment within the larger settlements. It is recognised that there will continue to be a demand for development outwith the settlement development areas. The Local Plan strategy identifies three categories of countryside based on the type and importance of natural and cultural heritage they contain. A specific policy applies to proposals within these areas. In addition to the allocation of land for affordable housing, a specific policy detailing the requirements for larger developments is contained within the Plan. Other development considerations which are required to be taken into account, for example flooding issues or sustainable design are the subject of a specific policy. 2.13 The detail of all the policies and proposals to be contained within the Plan will of course be the subject of full consultation with all the stakeholders involved in plan preparation, but at this stage the Wester Ross approach offers a consistent starting point from which to move forward. The full details of the Wester Ross Local Plan policies are shown in Appendix B for information. 3. PLAN CONTEXT Relationship with other plans and programmes 3.1 There are a number of plans, programmes and environmental objectives that will be analysed for their relationship with the Sutherland Local Plan. These are indicated below and the views of the Consultation Authorities are sought on the documents identified. The environmental report will include a detailed appraisal of the implications of the individual plans and programmes and how these have been incorporated within the Local Plan. National Planning Policy 3.2 The Local Plan will be produced in accordance with Scottish Executive Planning Policy, such as SPPs (Scottish Planning Policy) and NPPGs (National Planning Policy Guidelines), as well as the National Planning Framework and the emerging Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill. National and International Legislation 3.3 National and International law has an impact on the contents of the Local Plan. EU Directives such as the Air Quality Directive, Water Framework Directive and following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Biodiversity Action Plan all need to be taken into consideration. Relevant national legislation includes the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act 1981, the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, and the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. Structure Plan 3.4 The Sutherland Local Plan will incorporate the main objectives of the Highland Structure Plan, which was approved by Scottish Ministers in March 2001.