ED.13.2 Sustainability Appraisal of the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy: Proposed Modifications SA Report August 2015 Sustainability Appraisal of the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy Proposed Modifications August 2015 SA Report meeting the requirements of the SEA Directive LC-186 Document Control Box Client Stratford-on-Avon District Council Sustainability Appraisal of the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy Proposed Report Title Modifications, August 2015 Number 3 Status Draft Filename LC-186_SA_Report_Core_Strategy_With_Modifications_3_130815RC .docx Date August 2015 Author SBS & RMC Reviewed NJD & SN Approved NJD SA of Core Strategy Proposed Modifications August, 2015 LC-186_SA_Report_Core_Strategy_With_Modifications_3_130815RC .docx Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 About Stratford-upon-Avon ............................................................................................................. 2 1.3 1.3 The SA process ................................................................................................................................ 3 1.4 An Integrated Approach to Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 1.5 Planning Practice Guidance on Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal ................................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 About this report .................................................................................................................................. 5 2 Evolution of the Core Strategy and Previous SA work up to Examination ........................... 7 2.1 Core Strategy ......................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Previous SA Stages ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.3 Examination findings ......................................................................................................................... 16 3 Post January 2015 Examination Scope of Appraisal ................................................................... 20 3.1 Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 Inspector’s Findings ......................................................................................................................... 20 3.3 Sites previously considered .......................................................................................................... 20 3.4 Proposed modifications to the Core Strategy ...................................................................... 20 4 Appraisal Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Assessment of the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy .......................................................... 25 4.2 Approach to the appraisal ............................................................................................................. 25 4.3 Precautionary principle ................................................................................................................... 25 4.4 Cumulative effects assessment .................................................................................................... 27 4.5 Assumptions ........................................................................................................................................ 27 5 Pre Mitigation Appraisal Findings ........................................................................................................ 29 5.1 The Core Strategy Policies .............................................................................................................. 29 5.2 Sustainability Framework ................................................................................................................ 31 5.3 District Resources ............................................................................................................................... 31 5.4 District Designations ........................................................................................................................ 38 5.5 Development Strategy ..................................................................................................................... 43 5.6 Area Strategies ................................................................................................................................... 53 5.7 Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................................... 95 6 Post Mitigation Appraisal Findings ..................................................................................................... 99 6.2 Policy CS10 Green Belt .................................................................................................................... 99 6.3 Policy CS14 Vale of Evesham Control Zone ......................................................................... 100 6.4 Policy CS15 Distribution of Development ............................................................................. 100 6.5 Policy CS 16 Housing Development ........................................................................................... 101 6.6 Policy CS22 Retail Development and Main Centres ............................................................ 101 6.7 Proposal SUA2 South of Alcester Road .................................................................................. 102 6.8 Proposal SUA4 North of Bishopton Lane ............................................................................... 102 6.9 Proposal Long Marston Airfield (LMA) New Settlement ................................................. 103 Lepus Consulting for Stratford-on-Avon Council i SA of Core Strategy Proposed Modifications August, 2015 LC-186_SA_Report_Core_Strategy_With_Modifications_3_130815RC .docx 6.10 Proposal Long Marston Airfield - South Western Relief Road .................................... 103 6.11 Policy AS2 Alcester ........................................................................................................................ 104 6.12 Policy ALC1 North of Allimore Lane (southern part) ....................................................... 104 6.13 Policy ALC2 North of Allimore Lane (northern part) ....................................................... 105 6.14 Policy ALC3 North of Arden Road .......................................................................................... 105 6.15 Policy Policy AS5 Kineton ........................................................................................................... 106 6.16 Policy SA7 Southam ..................................................................................................................... 106 6.17 Proposal SOU1 West of Banbury Road .................................................................................. 107 6.18 Proposal SOU2 West of Coventry Road ............................................................................... 107 6.19 Proposal SOU3 South of Daventry Road .............................................................................. 108 6.20 Proposal AS8 Studley ................................................................................................................. 108 6.21 Policy AS9 Wellesbourne ............................................................................................................ 109 6.22 Proposal Gaydon/Lighthorne Heath New Settlement .................................................... 109 6.23 Policy REDD1 Winyates Green Triange, Mappleborough Green .................................. 110 6.24 Policy REDD2 Gorcott Hill, Mappleborough Green .......................................................... 110 6.25 In-combination Effects .................................................................................................................. 111 6.26 In-combination assessments: Long Marston Airfield & south western relief road 114 6.27 In-combination assessments: SUA1 Stratford Regeneration Zone and SUA2 Land South of Alcester Road .............................................................................................................................. 114 7 Reasonable Alternatives: Outline of the reasons for selection and rejection .................... 116 8 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................... 137 8.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 137 8.2 Recommendations for enhancement ....................................................................................... 137 9 Monitoring ..................................................................................................................................................