Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Submission Environmental Report Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group January 2018 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Ryan Putt Nick Chisholm-Batten Steve Smith Technical Graduate Environmental Associate Director Consultant Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position V1.0 10th January Draft for client 10th January Nick Chisholm- Associate 2018 comment 2018 Batten Prepared for: Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Prepared by: AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Plumer House Third Floor, East Wing Tailyour Road Crownhill Plymouth PL6 5DH United Kingdom T: +44 (1752) 676700 aecom.com © 2018 AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Table of Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 SEA explained .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Structure of this Environmental Report ...................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Local Plan context and vision for the BPNP ...................................................... 4 Local Plan context for the BPNP..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Vision for the BPNP ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5 3. The Scope of the SEA ................................................................................................ 6 SEA Scoping Report ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Key Sustainability Issues .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 SEA Framework .................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 4. What has plan marking / SEA involved to this point? .................................. 16 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Overview of plan making / SEA work undertaken since 2013 ...................................................................................... 16 Assessment of reasonable alternatives for the Neighbourhood Plan ..................................................................... 16 Assessment of potential locations for housing allocations .......................................................................................... 16 Current approach in the Neighbourhood Plan and the development of Neighbourhood Plan policies . 22 5. What are the appraisal findings at this current stage? ............................... 24 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Approach to the appraisal .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Biodiversity and Geodiversity ....................................................................................................................................................... 24 Climate Change.................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Landscape and Historic Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 26 Land, Soil and Water Resources .................................................................................................................................................. 27 Population and Community ........................................................................................................................................................... 28 Health and Wellbeing ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Transportation....................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Conclusions at this current stage ............................................................................................................................................... 30 6. What are the next steps? ....................................................................................... 31 Appendix A Context review and baseline .................................................................... 33 Prepared for: Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Prepared for: Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Non-Technical Summary What is strategic environmental assessment? A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) has been undertaken to inform the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan (BPNP). This process is required by the SEA Regulations. Neighbourhood Plan groups use SEA to assess Neighbourhood Plans against a set of sustainability objectives developed in consultation with interested parties. The purpose of the assessment is to avoid adverse environmental and socio-economic effects through the Neighbourhood Plan, and identify opportunities to improve the environmental quality of the area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan and the quality of life of residents. What is the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan? The BPNP presents a plan for the administrative area of Bere Ferrers Parish for the period to 2034. Prepared to be in conformity with the emerging Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan (JLP), it sets out a vision and a range of policies for the Neighbourhood Plan area. These relate to a range of topics categorised into five themes: environment, housing, economy, transport and community. It is currently anticipated that the BPNP will undergo referendum later in 2018. Purpose of this Environmental Report This Environmental Report, which accompanies the Submission version of the BPNP, is the latest document to be produced as part of the SEA process. The purpose of this Environmental Report is to: ─ Identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects of the BPNP and alternatives; and ─ Provide an opportunity for consultees to offer views on any aspect of the SEA process which has been carried out to date. The Environmental Report contains: ─ An outline of the contents and main objectives of the BPNP and its relationship with other relevant policies, plans and programmes; ─ Relevant aspects of the current and future state of the environment and key sustainability issues; ─ The SEA Framework of objectives against which the BPNP has been assessed; ─ The appraisal of alternative approaches for the BPNP; ─ The likely significant environmental effects of the BPNP; ─ The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any significant adverse effects as a result of the BPNP; and ─ The next steps for the BPNP and accompanying SEA process. Prepared for: Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM NTS1 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Bere Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan Assessment of alternative approaches for the BPNP A key aim of the Neighbourhood Plan is to ensure that housing delivered in the parish is appropriately located for local needs. The Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared in conjunction with the provisions of the emerging Plymouth and South West