Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan Sustainability Appraisal November 2006 1 BROMLEY-BY-BOW MASTERPLAN: SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL 01 INTRODUCTION Page 3 Sustainability appraisal report Consequences of the Sustainability Appraisal process How to comment on this report 02 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY Page 5 03 APPRAISAL METHODOLOGY Page 9 Introduction to the methodology Collection of baseline data Plans, programmes, policies, strategies and initiatives The sustainability framework Compatibility of objectives Consultation 04 BACKGROUND Page 14 What is sustainable development? Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan Compliance with government regulations and the SEA directive 05 SUSTAINABILITY OBVJECTIVES, BASELINE AND CONTEXT Page 18 Links to other plans, programmes, policies, strategies and initiatives A profile of Bromley-by-Bow: the baseline data The main social, environmental and economic issues for Bromley-by-Bow The sustainability appraisal framework: objectives Compatibility of objectives 06 APPRAISAL OF MASTERPLAN OBJECTIVES Page 29 Main options and how they were identified Appraisal of the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan Duration and reversibility of predicted impacts Cumulative impacts Uncertainty about implementation Mitigation 07 PROPOSED MONITORING Page 50 08 NEXT STEPS Page 52 APPENDICES Appendix A: Requirements of the SEA Directive Page 53 Appendix B: Plans, programmes, policies, strategies and initiatives Page 54 Appendix C: Assessment of preferred options, over time and reversibility Page 69 Appendix D: Assessment of preferred options, cumulative impacts Page 134 2 01 INTRODUCTION Sustainability Appraisal Report 1.1 The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has commissioned a team of consultants led by Urban Initiatives to develop a Masterplan for Bromley-by-Bow, which will be adopted as Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) following consultation and adoption of the Core Strategy and Leaside Area Action Plan. As part of the process of developing this draft document, the Borough Council has undertaken a Sustainability Appraisal of the Masterplan. 1.2 This Sustainability Appraisal Report presents the process, findings and outcomes of the Sustainability Appraisal that has been undertaken for the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan. 1.3 The appraisal follows an iterative process, providing a view of the likely implications that proposals in the draft document will have and can therefore be taken into consideration in leading to the anticipated adoption of the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan as a Supplementary Planning Document. 1.4 The report is structured as follows: Section 2 provides a non-technical summary of this report; Section 3 provides detail on the appraisal methodology in terms of the approach adopted, when and who undertook the appraisal and who has been consulted up to this stage; Section 4 provides background to the Sustainability Appraisal process, the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan that is being appraised and how this Sustainability Appraisal has met the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive/Regulations; Section 5 covers the baseline collection work and identification of the plans, policies and programmes that will impact upon the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan. Current sustainability issues within the Borough and more specifically to Bromley-by-Bow are identified, as are the sustainability objectives; Section 6 appraises the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan, establishing the duration and reversibility of predicted impacts, cumulative impacts, uncertainty about implementation and mitigation measures for any detrimental sustainability effects; Section 7 identifies proposals for monitoring; and Section 8 outlines the next steps to be taken. 3 Consequences of the sustainability appraisal process 1.5 The Sustainability Appraisal process, along with the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, has widened the range of issues considered in the production of the Masterplan, in particular by focusing attention on the need to consider a range of potential social, economic and environmental effects. 1.6 The process of identifying baseline data, as well as plans, programmes, policies, strategies and initiatives relevant to the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan, has ensured that the document has been formulated in light of relevant issues and guidance. How to comment on this report 1.7 Along with the Draft Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan, this report has been made available for public consultation. All comments received during this period will be taken into consideration in preparing the Masterplan for adoption as an SPD. 1.8 All comments should be sent to: Tower Hamlets Borough Council c/o Urban Initiatives 1, Fitzroy Square London W1T 5HE [email protected] 4 02 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY Introduction 2.1 The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has commissioned a team of consultants led by Urban Initiatives to develop a Masterplan for Bromley-by-Bow. This work will provide additional guidance to supplement the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ statutory planning guidance as set out in their Local Development Framework and Area Action Plan for Leaside and it will be used to help assess planning applications within the Masterplan area. 2.2 The Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan is the result of a collaborative process between the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, London Development Agency, Greater London Authority, Transport for London, London Underground Limited, London Borough of Newham, local residents and landowners. 2.3 A key aim of the Masterplan is to ensure that it contributes to sustainable development within Bromley-by-Bow. Sustainable development is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations. A Sustainability Appraisal has therefore been undertaken. Included within this process is the requirement for ‘The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004’ (known as Strategic Environmental Assessment). This non-technical summary presents a summary of this process and the work undertaken to date. What is a Sustainability Appraisal? 2.4 A Sustainability Appraisal aims to predict and assess the economic, social and environmental effects that are likely to arise from a project, plan or strategy in order that the document can be amended and made more sustainable. The appraisal integrates two processes; • Sustainability Appraisal: a process for understanding whether a project, plan or strategy promotes sustainable development, and for improving those plans etc. to deliver more sustainable outcomes. • Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): a process for assessing and mitigating the negative environmental impacts likely to arise from a project, plan or strategy. Methodology 2.5 In undertaking the Sustainability Appraisal of the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan data was collected about the Bromley-by-Bow area, with particular regard to its existing economic, social and environmental circumstances. This is known as ‘baseline’ data. The next stage of the process was to identify and analyse all plans, programmes and policies that would impact upon the Masterplan. These plans, programmes and policies ranged from documents produced at a national level (e.g. 5 Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Planning Policy Statements), to a regional level (e.g. the London Plan) and to a local level (e.g. Tower Hamlets Unitary Development Plan). 2.6 From this information it was possible to identify whether the LDF/AAP sustainability objectives needed to be tailored specifically towards the issues in Bromley-by-Bow and whether they would be suitable to assess the Masterplan against. It was determined that the same sustainability objectives would be used. Baseline Data 2.7 The baseline data consisted of social, economic and environmental information gathered about the Borough, and where possible the Bromley-by-Bow area. This covers issues such as deprivation, education, health, employment, ethnic background, air quality, open space and community facilities. Further information is provided within section 5 of this report. 2.8 Bromley-by-Bow is located within the Lower Lea Valley in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The Masterplan area (identified in figure 4) has a population of around 7,950, of which a significant proportion is of Bengali ethnic origin. The area also suffers from high levels of multiple deprivation and poor educational achievement. 2.9 In terms of economic characteristics, the study area is dominated by industry, but although industrial buildings cover a significant land area the number of jobs provided is low. The working population is relatively unskilled, with a significant proportion of individuals working in elementary occupations. Levels of unemployment are also considerably higher than those for London as a whole. In relation to households, the study area has a high proportion of low cost dwellings and the majority of households rent their property from a social landlord. 2.10 With regards to the environmental characteristics the study area lacks open green space. The quality of the environment is also lacking, both environmentally and physically, although there are a number of listed buildings within the area as well as identified sites of archaeological importance or potential. 2.11 The Masterplan area is relatively well served with regards to community facilities, including schools, health services and places of worship. There is no permanent library or idea store and no leisure centre within the
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