CRAWLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL / STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Sustainability Report for the Modifications Local Plan June 2015 1 Page Non-Technical Summary 4 1. Introduction 10 Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment 10 Consultation Arrangements 11 2. Context and Methodology 12 Introduction to Sustainable Development 12 Habitats Regulation Assessment 14 Methodology 14 Plan Area 15 3. Overview of the Local Plan 17 Crawley’s Local Plan 17 4. Crawley and the Sustainability Appraisal Objectives 21 Issues and Options Consultation 21 Preferred Strategy Consultation 22 Site Allocation Consultation 22 Publication Consultation 22 Examination and Modifications Consultation 22 Sustainability Appraisal Topic Areas 23 Current Sustainability Issues 24 The Sustainability Objectives and Monitoring Indicators 25 5. Submission Policy and Allocations/Designations Appraisal 30 Submission Local Plan Policy Appraisal 30 Summary of Key Findings and Significant Effects 30 The Mitigation of Policies with Negative Effects 32 Submission Local Plan Site Allocation/Designation Appraisal Methodology 33 Appendices: A: Glossary 38 B: Summary of Scoping Report consultation responses 42 C: Summary of Draft Sustainability Report consultation responses 48 D: Topic area Baseline information, Trends, Plans, Policies and Programmes 52 E: Vision and Strategic Spatial Strategy Issues and Options 106 F: Submission Local Plan Policies Options and Appraisal 114 G: Submission Local Plan Allocations and Designations Appraisal 202 H: Engagement Partners 330 I: Maps 332 2 3 Non-Technical Summary 1. Crawley Borough Council (the ‘council’) is reviewing its Local Plan (the adopted Core Strategy, 2008, and ‘saved’ Local Plan policies, 2000). Crawley’s new Local Plan sets out policies to guide both strategic development and development management over the period 2015-2030. The Local Plan establishes development proposals within the borough, including the long-term housing and employment land supply position for the Plan period up to 2030. It includes policies to guide the location and type of new development and to protect valued elements of the natural and built environment; and sets out mechanisms for the implementation of infrastructure supporting it. 2. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) requires Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to carry out a Sustainability Appraisal for all Development Plan documents to ensure that the plan is designed in a sustainable manner. This process involves examining the likely effects of the plan and considering how they contribute to the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of the town. Where problems are identified, mitigation measures should be proposed and put into practice. 3. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) aims to predict and assess the environmental effects that are likely to arise from plans, policies and land use strategies, such as this Local Plan. The process involves the assessment and mitigation of negative environmental impacts of specific plans and programmes. For the purposes of this Sustainability Appraisal, the SEA has been incorporated into this report. Therefore, where the report refers to the SA, it can be assumed this also means the SEA. 4. This non-technical summary of the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Report informs consultees and the general public about the process of the Sustainability Appraisal in plain English, avoiding the use of technical terms. A glossary of the main terms used is listed at Appendix A of this report. The production of a non-technical summary is a requirement of an EU Directive known as the ‘SEA Directive’. Baseline Data 5. In order to carry out the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Plan document, information was collected and analysed to establish what the town is like currently. This is known as ‘baseline data’ and is primarily collected from the council’s own records and the latest Census (2011). This information helps to build a picture of the successes and challenges facing the town to understand sustainability issues within Crawley, and predict how things may change in the future if the Local Plan was not to be implemented. The overall findings can be summarised as follows: Economy Crawley is firmly established as one of the key economic drivers in the south east of England. The town’s economy is generally strong, with over 30,000 people employed at the Manor Royal Business District, but with a large amount of in-commuting to the town. This dynamic is partly attributed to local skills not matching the requirements of local businesses. Social In Crawley, owing to the administrative and environmental constraints of the borough, land supply is limited for new homes, and the need for new homes will outstrip supply. Generally, the borough has low levels of deprivation, although there are several pockets of deprivation to the west of the borough. Although the perception of crime within the borough is high, actual crime has reduced significantly in recent years. Lastly, compared to the majority of West Sussex districts, education levels are 4 low, although the percentage of residents with no qualification has also lowered in recent years. Environment Overall the borough has a high quality built and natural environment. There is one Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which extends into the borough to the south: the High Weald. In addition, there is a range of other local environmental designations, including six Local Nature Reserves and 12 Sites of Nature Conservation Importance. However, there are threats to the environment as a result of pollution from Gatwick Airport and the busy transport interchanges within Crawley, and development pressures. Sustainability Issues for Crawley 6. The baseline information presented in Appendix D, and the evidence base produced to underpin the Local Plan policies, have helped to inform the sustainability issues affecting the borough. The sustainability issues for Crawley are as follows: Crawley’s Sustainability Issues: Pollution Crawley’s role as an economic hub and transport interchange means the town’s contribution to air pollution and climate change is likely to increase. Climate Change Crawley as a dense urban area has a high level of anticipated development, whilst also being identified as an area of radiant energy and subject to serious water stress. Waste Crawley has no strategy for managing commercial and industrial waste. Flooding The concentration of new development in Crawley and the surrounding area could increase the risk of flooding. Water Supply The potential for development to be concentrated in the Crawley area may lead to water supply issues. Sewerage The potential for development to be concentrated in Crawley may lead to sewerage capacity problems. Air Quality In the context of an expanding town and the international airport, maintenance of air quality may become increasingly problematic. Noise Noise has the potential to affect people living, working in and visiting Crawley, particularly aircraft noise in the north of the borough. The degree to which this will affect people is complicated by the uncertainty surrounding the future expansion of Gatwick Airport. Attractiveness There is a need to ensure Crawley remains a place where people want to live and invest, in order to enhance the quality of life and encourage economic growth. Housing The economic downturn has seriously affected the delivery of new Delivery housing in recent years, although that trend may be changing as the economy improves. Housing Stock The housing stock does not match the need and aspirations of the borough over the next 20 years. Affordable Affordable housing provision does not match the level of need. Housing Land Supply Land supply in the borough is limited. 5 Building Stock There is a mismatch between the existing older building stock and the current needs of the changing economy, both within the dedicated business areas and the town centre. Skills Gap Local skills do not match the requirements of local businesses, resulting in significant in-commuting to the borough from surrounding areas. Changing The economic structure of the town is moving from one dominated by Economy large scale airport-related business to one where professional services are becoming increasingly strong. Competitiveness The retail sector of the town’s economy has been declining in recent years and there is capacity for a step change improvement in the quality the town centre. Green The lack of development land is increasing the threat to natural areas, Infrastructure open spaces and green infrastructure within the urban environment. Biodiversity Development in the borough will impact on biodiversity, fauna, flora and soil. Traffic Demand The growth of the town will increase pressures on transport infrastructure that is already approaching capacity. Infrastructure The rate of development, particularly residential, requires careful provision management to ensure that it does not outstrip the borough’s infrastructure provision. Community The changing population demographics in the area is creating a Facilities mismatch between the need for housing and community facilities and current provision. Ethnic Diversity The ethnic structure of the population within Crawley is notably diverse in comparison to the national average resulting in specific development demands. Young Crawley has a high proportion of young children compared with other Population West Sussex local authorities, but early years’ provision in