Foreword This topic paper forms part of the evidence base supporting the Wiltshire Council Sustainability Appraisal (SA)/ Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping Report. An overview of the SA/SEA process can be found within the main report. Detailed information for each of the SA/SEA stages have been separated into topic papers for a series of environmental and sustainability themes. This has been done to assist the reader access information for selected themes without the need to read the entire volume of information. The topics selected for inclusion within the Wiltshire Council Scoping Report are listed below and are all available as individual topic papers. 1. Biodiversity 2. Land and Soil Resources 3. Water Resources and Flood Risk 4. Air Quality and Environmental Pollution 5. Climatic Factors 6. Historic Environment 7. Landscapes 8. Population and Housing 9. Healthy Communities 10. Inclusive Communities 11. Education and Skills 12. Transport 13. Economy and Enterprise Contents 7.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................1 7.2 Review of Relevant Policies, Plans and Programmes..........................................1 7.3 Baseline Information.........................................................................................7 7.4 Key Environmental and Sustainability Issues....................................................12 7.5 Sustainability Appraisal Framework.................................................................12 a) Proposed Environmental and Sustainability Appraisal Objective (s)..............13 b) Proposed Decision Aiding Questions ..........................................................13 c) Potential Environmental and Sustainability Indicators .................................13 7.6 Cross Cutting Matters......................................................................................13 Topic Paper 7: Wiltshire Council Scoping Report Consultation Version Landscapes January 2009 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 Landscapes for the purposes of the SA refer to the natural landscape around us and would include consideration of the settings of settlements, land specifically designated for its natural landscape beauty and the evolving agricultural landscape. However, the landscape is more than a view as it provides the context to a living countryside. 7.2 Review of Relevant Policies, Plans and Programmes (Task A1) 7.2.1 One of the requirements of the SA process is to take account of any other policies, plans and programmes which may be relevant to the planning document under consideration. Table 7.1, below, lists the documents that have been reviewed in relation to the landscape topic. It is important to note that the review is in no way an exhaustive list and does not attempt to identify in detail the content of every plan or programme. Following Table 7.1 a brief summary is given of each document, together with any relevant objectives/requirements and how these might be considered within the planning document. Table 7.1: List of Documents Reviewed for the Landscape Theme Countryside and Rights of way Act (CroW) (2000) PPG2 – Green Belts (1995) PPS6: Proposed changes – Planning for Town Centres Consultation (2008) State of the English Cities (2006) Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future (2003) The State of the Countryside 2007 SW Regional Woodland & Forestry Framework (2005) Cotswold AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB Management Plan 2004-09 Kennet Landscape Conservation Strategy (2005) North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan (2004) The Bourne Valley Linear Park, Feasibility Study (2006) West Wiltshire District Landscape Character Assessment (2006) 1 Topic Paper 7: Wiltshire Council Scoping Report Consultation Version Landscapes January 2009 Plan/Programme Countryside and Rights of Way Act Level National Document date 2000 Summary of document CRoW extends the public’s ability to enjoy the countryside whilst also providing safeguards for landowners and occupiers Key objectives and/or requirements Objectives: • create a new right of public access to open countryside and registered common land, • modernise the Rights of Way (RoW) system • give greater protection to SSSIs • provide better management arrangements for AONBs • strengthen wildlife enforcement legislation How objectives and/or requirements might be considered in the LDF DPD needs to have regard to areas designated for their scientific interest, scenic quality, wildlife conservation value and to the protection of public RoW SA should consider the impact of the DPD on designated areas and RoW Plan/Programme PPG2: Green Belts Level National Document date 1995 Summary of document Details policy of preventing urban sprawl by controlling development in the open countryside around major settlements; identifies inappropriate development Key objectives and/or requirements Objectives: • maintain openness of the land • prevent harmful development, unless very special circumstances • secure nature conservation interest and retain land in agriculture, forestry and related uses • Provide opportunities for access to the countryside and for outdoor sport and recreation How objectives and/or requirements might be considered in the LDF DPD needs to include an objective and policy to protect the area identified as the Western Wiltshire Green Belt. SA should reflect the need to protect the Western Wiltshire Green Belt 2 Topic Paper 7: Wiltshire Council Scoping Report Consultation Version Landscapes January 2009 Plan/Programme The state of the countryside 2007 Level National Document date August 2007 Summary of document This is the ninth State of the Countryside report, which aims to provide a comprehensive economic, social, and environmental profile of the state of the English countryside. There are three particularly important issues thrown up by this report: 1. There is a clear ‘rural dimension’ to issues of equity and social inclusion; 2. The countryside can potentially make an important contribution to environmental sustainability, yet there are contradictions in the way rural England is used; 3. This year’s report for the first time identified the strength of rural-urban linkages and interdependencies. This is an important area for further research, in order to ensure that rural England gets its fair share of development funding and to guide its use. Key objectives and/or requirements The report focuses on the following issues, without listing specific objectives: • population & migration • access to services • housing and homelessness • health & healthcare • education rural community and governance • income, wealth and consumption • work and employment • enterprise and entrepreneurs • land use • land value • environmental quality • climate change How objectives and/or requirements might be considered in the LDF A significant part of the county is rural with many small towns and villages and areas of open countryside. Rural issues considered in this report will be an important consideration for the LDF. Plan/Programme SW Regional Woodland & Forestry Framework 2005 Level Regional (Woodland and Forestry Framework Steering Group) Document date 2005 Summary of document This is a key regional document driving woodland and forestry strategies in the SW region. This Framework aims to be the first point of focus on the future of the region’s woods and forests – identifying how the region can benefit more from woods and become a better custodian of its woods and forests. It sets out the priorities for activity across the private, public and voluntary sectors. Key objectives and/or requirements The Framework contains a number of objectives under the following aims: Climate Change, Woodland management, Communication, Environmental Economy, Increase volume of wood consumed in SW, Increased woodfuel installations, Woodlands and leisure/tourism, Knowledge and skills, Sustainable communities, More people enjoying woodland, Protect natural resources and biodiversity, Landscape culture & heritage. How objectives and/or requirements might be considered in the LDF Policies and objectives contained within this document have the potential to achieve positive impacts on a number of sustainability issues facing the County, including Climate Change, landscape, culture and recreation, biodiversity, education and health. 3 Topic Paper 7: Wiltshire Council Scoping Report Consultation Version Landscapes January 2009 Plan/Programme Cotswold AONB Management Plan 2008 – 2013 Level Local Document date April 2008 Summary of document The Plan will operate alongside other statutory plans and programmes, especially community strategies, development plans and transport plans. The Plan provides the vision for the next 20- 25 years, with an immediate 5 year framework 2008 – 2013 The Plan has two main statutory purposes: 1. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB 2. To increase the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB Key objectives and/or requirements The following fundamental principles inform the approach to management: 1. The implications of climate change for all activities must be addressed 2. The landscape of the AONB must be managed in ways that conserve and enhance landscape character, local distinctiveness, geology and geomorphology, historic features, habitats and biological diversity 3. A sustainable approach must be taken to all issues within the AONB, particularly in the development and management of its rural