South Lakeland Local Plan Review Sustainability Appraisal Draft Scoping Report February 2020 www.southlakeland.gov.uk 1 Non-Technical Summary .............................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.2 What is Sustainability Appraisal? ....................................................... 1 1.3 What are the key issues and challenges facing South Lakeland? ..... 2 1.4 How will the appraisal be carried out? ............................................... 4 1.5 What are the next steps? ................................................................... 5 2 Introduction .................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Background to the South Lakeland Local Plan Review ...................... 6 2.2 Background to Sustainability Appraisal .............................................. 7 2.3 Purpose and Structure of this SA Scoping Report ........................... 11 2.4 Consultation ..................................................................................... 11 2.5 Next steps ........................................................................................ 12 2.6 Other Related Assessments ............................................................ 13 3 Task A1 – Context Review: Relevant Plans, Programmes, Strategies and Initiatives .................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Social Progress ................................................................................ 15 3.3 Environmental Protection and Natural Resources ........................... 17 3.4 Economic Development ................................................................... 23 4 Task A2 – Establishing the Baseline .......................................................... 26 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 26 4.2 Social Progress ................................................................................ 26 4.3 Environmental Protection and Natural Resources ........................... 42 4.4 Economic Development ................................................................... 74 5 Task A3 – Identifying Sustainability Issues and Problems ......................... 80 5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 80 5.2 Key Issues ....................................................................................... 80 6 Task A4 – Sustainability Appraisal Framework and Methodology .............. 86 6.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 86 6.2 Review of existing Cumbria SA Framework ..................................... 86 6.3 Proposed SA Framework ................................................................. 87 6.4 Assessment Methodology ................................................................ 97 2 Appendix 1: Relevant Plans, Policies, Strategies and Initiatives .................... 103 International ............................................................................................. 103 National - Legislation ............................................................................... 112 National – Plans, Programmes, Strategies, Initiatives ............................. 117 Sub-Regional ........................................................................................... 131 Local 142 Appendix 2: Proposed SA Indicators .............................................................. 153 Social Indicators ....................................................................................... 153 Environmental Indicators .......................................................................... 165 Economic Indicators ................................................................................. 178 Appendix 3: Proposed Changes to Cumbria SA Framework .......................... 184 Appendix 4: Feedback from Statutory Bodies on draft SA Scoping Report .... 188 List of Figures Figure 1: Local Plan area ................................................................................... 7 Figure 2: SA and Local Plan Processes ............................................................. 9 Figure 3: Consultation Questions ..................................................................... 12 Figure 4: Settlements in South Lakeland .......................................................... 27 Figure 5: Travel to Work Areas ......................................................................... 28 Figure 6: Commuting flows in and out of South Lakeland ................................ 29 Figure 7: Components of Population Change in South Lakeland 2001-2018 ... 30 Figure 8: Population Projections for South Lakeland ........................................ 31 Figure 9: Population Age Profile ....................................................................... 32 Figure 10: Population 65+ ................................................................................ 33 Figure 11: Housing Completions and Permissions ........................................... 34 Figure 12: Housing Affordability ....................................................................... 35 Figure 13: Health Deprivation ........................................................................... 38 Figure 14: 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation .................................................. 40 Figure 15: Statutory Biodiversity Designations ................................................. 43 Figure 16: Priority habitats................................................................................ 44 Figure 17: National Habitat Network Map ......................................................... 46 Figure 18: Cultural Heritage ............................................................................. 49 Figure 19: National Character Areas ................................................................ 50 Figure 20: Cumbria Landscape Character Types ............................................. 51 Figure 21: Dark Skies in South Lakeland ......................................................... 52 Figure 22: Carbon Dioxide Emissions .............................................................. 53 Figure 23: Kendal Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) ............................... 55 Figure 24: Distribution of housing development 2003-19 ................................. 58 Figure 25: Water Quality .................................................................................. 59 Figure 26: Fluvial and Tidal Flood Risk ............................................................ 61 3 Figure 27: Surface Water Flooding ................................................................... 62 Figure 28: Coastal Strategy Policy Areas ......................................................... 65 Figure 29: Agricultural Land Classification ....................................................... 67 Figure 30: Geology - Bedrock ........................................................................... 68 Figure 31: Geology - Superficial Deposits ........................................................ 69 Figure 32: Local Geological Sites ..................................................................... 70 Figure 33: Minerals Safeguarding Areas .......................................................... 71 Figure 34: Greenfield and Brownfield Development ......................................... 72 Figure 35: GVA per head ................................................................................. 74 Figure 36: Employees by Industry .................................................................... 75 Figure 37: Socio Economic Category ............................................................... 76 Figure 38: Average weekly earnings ................................................................ 77 Figure 39: Empty Shops ................................................................................... 78 Figure 40: Proposed Assessment Form Template ........................................... 99 List of Tables Table 1: SEA Requirements and SA Process .................................................. 11 Table 2: Population Age Profile (2017 Mid Year Estimates, ONS) ................... 33 Table 3: Affordable Housing Provision ............................................................. 35 Table 4: Household Types................................................................................ 36 Table 5: Household Tenure .............................................................................. 37 Table 6: Estimated Population Change for a range of Health Issues 2016-2036 ......................................................................................................................... 39 Table 7: Deprivation (IMD 2019) ...................................................................... 40 Table 8: SSSI Condition ................................................................................... 42 Table 9: South Lakeland Railway Station Usage - Passenger Entries and Exits ......................................................................................................................... 56 Table 10: Flood Investigation Reports .............................................................. 64 Table 11: Draft Coastal Strategy - proposed approaches for policy